«lt«lMi<>! 

/•■vlliiis  Donation.    •  I 

•  ^. f  *-h<=  Rev  Richard 
Remains  of  tne  Kev . 

Cecil   :   to  which  is 


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Be  thou  faithlkl  ftc.  Rc\-  iLx 
But  rh*  spruit/  or'  all  tt**sr  t'tuvlum  IwtfMM 
ami  Uu  miltt  fTttt  tfJUt  nun,/  Ml  JWH 


&  c~ ****** 

REMAINS  ' 


REV.  RICHARD  CECIL,  M.  A. 

LATE  RECTOR  OF  BISLEV,  AND  VICAR  OF  CHOBHAM, 
SURREY;  AND  MINISTER  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHAPEL, 
BEDFORD    ROW,  LONDON. 


TO   WHICH   IS  PREFIXED 


A  VIEW  OF  HIS  CHARACTER. 


BY  JOSIAH  PRATT,  B.  D.  F.  A.  S. 


BOSTOIT: 

LINCOLN,  EDMANDS,  &  CO. 
No.  59  Washington  Street. 
1833. 


**** 


Xntvotruction. 


"  He  that  has  the  happy  talent  of  parlor-preach- 
ing, "says  Dr.  Watts,*  "has  sometimes  done 
more  for  Christ  and  souls  in  the  space  of  a  few 
minutes,  than  by  the  labor  of  many  hours  and 
days  in  the  usual  course  of  preaching  in  the 
pulpit." 

On  my  first  intercourse  with  Mr.  Cecil,  now 
upwards  of  fifteen  years  since,  when  in  the  full 
vigor  of  his  mind,  I  was  so  struck  with  the  wis- 
dom and  originality  of  his  remarks,  that  I  consid- 
ered it  my  duty  to  record  what  seemed  to  me 
most  likely  to  be  useful  to  others. 

It  should  be  observed  that  Mr.  Cecil  is  made  to 
speak  often  of  himself :  and,  to  persons  who  do 
not  consider  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  there 
may  appear  much  egotism  in  the  quantity  of  such 
remarks  here  put  together,  and  in  the  manner  in 
which  his  things  are  said  :  but  this  will  be  treating 
him  with  the  most  flagrant  injustice;  for  it  must 
be  remembered  that  the  remarks  of  this  nature 

*  An  humble  attempt  towards  the  revival  of  religion. 
Part  I.  Sect.  4. 


INTRODUCTION. 


were  chiefly  made  by  him,  from  time  to  time,  in 
answer  to  my  particular  inquiries  into  his  judg- 
ment and  habits  on  certain  points  of  doctrine  or 
practice. 

I  have  labored  in  recording  those  sentiments 
which  1  have  gathered  from  him  in  conversation, 
to  preserve  as  much  as  possible  his  very  express- 
ions ;  and  they  who  were  familiar  with  his  man- 
ner will  be  able  to  judge,  in  general,  how  far  I 
have  succeeded  :  but  I  would  explicitly  disavow 
an  exact  verbal  responsibility.  For  the  senti- 
ments I  make  myself  answerable. 

In  some  instances,  I  have  brought  together  ob- 
servations made  at  different  times;  the  reader  is 
not,  therefore,  to  understand  that  the  thoughts 
here  collected  on  any  subject  always  followed  in 
immediate  connexion. 


CONTENTS. 
View  of  the  Character  of  Rev.  Richard  Cecil,  7 

REMAINS. 

On  the  Christian  Life  and  Conflict,  66 
On  Subjects  connected  with  the  Christian  Min- 
istry : — 

On  a  Minister's  qualifying  himself  for  his 

Office,  85 

On  the  Assistance  which  a  Minister  has  rea- 
son to  expect  in  the  Discharge  of  his  Pub- 
lic Duty,  89 

On  Preaching  Christ,  91 
On  a  Minister's  Familiar  Intercourse  with  his 

Hearers,  97 

On  a  Minsiter's  encouraging  Animadversion 
on  Himself,     ------  99 

On  Limits,  with  regard  to  frequenting  Public 

Exhibitions,      -        -  104 
On  the  Means  of  promoting  a  Spirit  of  Devo- 
tion inCongregations,      ....  106 

On  the  Marriage  of  Christian  Ministers,      -  108 
On  visiting  Death-beds,       -  112 
Miscellaneous  Remarks,      ....  j]6 

On  Infidelity  and  Popery,  ....  132 

On  a  Christian's  Duty  in  these  Eventful  Times,  138 
On  Fortifying  Youth  against  Infidel  Principles,  140 
On  the  Management  of  Children,  -  -  -  143 
On  Family  Worship,  146 


y",  CONTENTS. 

On  the  Influence  of  the  Parental  Character,       -  149 

Remarks  on  Authors,   153 

On  the  Scriptures  : — 

Miscellaneous  Remarks  on  the  Scriptures,  -  15<J 

On  the  Old  and  New  Dispensations,  -  -  ICG 
On  Typical  and  Allegorical  Explanations  of 

Scripture,   168 

On  the  Diversity  of  Character  in  Christians,  and 

on  correcting  the  Defects  in  our  Character,     -  170 

On  the  Fallen  Nature  of  Man,    -       -      -      -  178 

On  the  Need  of  Grace,      -       -                    -  179 

On  the  occasions  of  Enmity  against  Christianity,  183 

On  Religious  Retirement,         .       -       -       -  186 

On  a  Spiritual  Mind,   190 

On  Declension  in  Religion,        -  I92 
On  a  Christian's  associating  with  Irreligious  Per- 
sons for  their  good,   195 

On  the  Christian  Sabbath,         .       -       -       -  197 

On  Judging  justly,   198 

On  the  Character  of  St.  Paul,     -       -      -       -  201 

Miscellanies,   204 

APPENDIX. 
Remarks  by  Mr.  Cecil,  communicated  to  the  Edi- 
tor by  some  friends,   231 

Some  negative  rules,  given  to  a  Young  Minister,  265 

Fragment— A  Dying  Minister's  Farewell,         -  268 

Lines  on  the  Death  of  a  Child  at  Day-break,      -  275 


VIEW  OF  THE  CHARACTER 


OF  THE 

REV.  RICHARD  CECIL. 


In  depicting  the  personal  and  ministerial 
character  of  my  departed  friend,  while  I  shall 
communicate  occasionally  the  impressions  made 
by  him  on  my  own  mind,  most  of  which  were  re- 
corded at  the  time  they  were  made,  I  shall  en- 
deavor to  render  him,  as  much  as  possible,  the 
portrayer  of  his  own  character,  by  detailing  those 
descriptions  of  his  views  and  feelings  which  I 
gathered  from  him. 

Nature,  education,  and  grace  combine  to 
form  and  model  the  PERSONAL  CHARACTER 
of  every  Christian.  God  gives  to  his  reasonable 
creature  such  physical  and  intellectual  constitu- 
tion as  he  pleases;  education  and  circumstances 
hide  or  unfold,  lestrain  or  mature  this  constitution  ; 
and  grace,  while  it  regulates  and  sanctifies  the 
powers  of  the  man,  varies  its  own  appearances  ac- 
cording to  the  varieties  of  those  powers.  And  it 
is  by  the  endless  modifications  and  counteractions 
of  these  principles,  that  the  Personal  Character  of 
a  Christian  is  formed. 

It  might  have  been  expected  from  Mr.  Cecil's 
earliest  displays  of  character,  that  he  was  formed 


8 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


to  be  an  instrument  of  extensive  evil  or  of  eminent 
good.  There  was  a  decision — a  daring — an  un- 
tameableness  in  the  structure  of  his  mind  even 
when  a  boy,  combined  witli  a  tone  of  authority 
and  command,  and  a  talent  in  the  exercise  of 
these  qualities,  to  which  the  minds  of  his  associ- 
ates yielded  an  implicit  subjection.  Fear  of  con- 
sequences never  entered  into  his  view.  Oppo- 
sition, especially  if  accompanied  by  any  thing  like 
severity  or  oppression,  awakened  unrelenting  re- 
sistance. 

Yet  this  bold  and  untameahle  spirit  was  allied 
to  a  noble  and  generous  disposition.  There 
was  a  magnificence  in  his  mind.  While  he  was 
scrupulously  delicate,  perhaps  even  to  some  ex- 
cess, on  subjects  intrusted  to  his  secrecy,  and  on 
affairs  in  progress;  yet  he  would  never  lend  him- 
self in  bis  own  concerns,  or  in  those  of  other  per- 
sons, to  any  thing  that  bordered  on  artifice  and 
manoeuvre :  for  he  had  a  native  and  thorough 
contempt  of  whatever  was  mean,  little,  and  equiv- 
ocating. That  "  honesty  is  the  best  policy"  may 
be  a  strong,  or  the  prevailing  motive  for  upright- 
ness with  men  of  a  lower  tone  of  character  ;  but  I 
question  if  it  at  all  entered  into  calculation  with 
my  great  friend.  His  mind  was  too  noble,  to 
have  recourse  to  other  means  or  to  aim  at  other 
ends,  than  those  which  he  avowed  ;  and  too  in- 
trepid not  to  avow  those  which  he  did  entertain, 
so  far  as  might  be  required  or  expedient. 

His.  temptations  were  to  the  sins  of  the  spirit, 
rather  than  to  those  of  the  flesh  ;  and  he  possessed, 
all  his  life  long,  a  superiority  to  the  pleasures  of 
mere  sense  not  often  seen.  He  was,  indeed,  tem- 
perate in  all  things — holding  his  bodily  appetites 
in  entire  subjection. 

Sympathy  with  suffering  was  an  eminent 
characteristic  of  Mr.  Cecil's  mind — a  sympathy 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL- 


9 


which  sprung  less  from  that  softness  and  sensibili- 
ty which  are  the  ornament  of  the  female,  than 
from  the  generosity  of  his  disposition.  He  would 
have  had  all  men  happy.  It  gratified  his  generous 
nature  to  ease  the  burdens  of  suffering  man.  If 
any  were  afflicted  by  the  visitations  of  God,  he 
taught  them  to  bow  with  submission,  while  he 
pitied  and  relieved;  if  the  affliction  were  the  natu- 
ral and  evident  fruit  of  crimes,  he  admonished 
while  he  sympathised;  if  the  Bufferings  of  man  or 
brute  arose  from  the  voluntary  inflictions  of  oth- 
ers, he  was  indignant  against  the  oppressor. 

Such  was  the  intrepid  and  noble,  yet  humane 
mind,  which  was  trained  by  Divine  Grace,  under 
a  long  course  of  moral  discipline,  for  eminent  use- 
fulness in  the  Church  of  God.  Mr.  Cecil's  intel- 
lectual endowments  will  he  spoken  of  hereafter. 
At  present,  I  shall  trace  the  rise  and  the  advances 
of  his  Christian  character. 

He  had  early  religious  impressions.  These  were 
first  received  from  Janevvay's  "Token  for  Chil- 
dren," which  his  mother  gave  him  when  he  was 
about  six  years  of  age.  "I  was  much  affected  by 
this  book,"  said  he,  "and  recollect  that  I  wept, 
and  got  into  a  corner,  where  I  prayed  that  I  also 
might  have  'an  interest  in  Christ,'  like  one  of  the 
children  there  mentioned,  though  I  did  not  then 
know  what  the  expression  meant." 

Those  impressions  of  his  childhood  wore  away. 
He  fell  into  the  follies  and  vices  of  youth  :  and  by 
degrees  began  to  listen  to  infidel  principles,  till  he 
avowed  himself  openly  an  unbeliever.  He  has  al- 
luded frequently  in  his  writings  to  this  criminal 
part  of  his  history  :  but  I  shall  add  some  para- 
graphs on  this  point  partly  in  his  own  words. 

He  was  suffered  to  proceed  to  awful  lengths  in 
infidelity.  The  natural  daring  of  his  mind  allow- 
B 


II) 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


ed  him  to  do  nothing  by  halves.  Into  whatever 
society  he  enlisted  himself,  he  was  its  leader.  He 
became  even  an  apostle  of  infidelity — anxious  to 
banish  the  scruples  of  more  cautious  minds,  and 
to  carry  them  all  lengths  with  his  own.  And  he 
was  too  successful.  In  after-life  he  has  met  more 
than  one  of  these  converts,  who  have  laughed  at 
all  his  affectionate  and  earnest  attempts  to  pull 
down  the  fabric  erected  too  much  by  his  own 
hands. 

Yet  he  was  never  wholly  sincere  in  his  infideli- 
ty. He  has  left  a  most  impressive  and  encourag- 
ing testimony  to  the  power  of  Parental  Influence 
ill  preserving  his  mind,  under  the  grace  of  God. 
from  entirely  believing  his  own  lie.*  He  gave  me 
a  farther  instance  of  the  power  of  conscience  in 
this  respect : — 

"  When  I  was  sunk  in  the  depths  of  infidelity,  I 
was  afraid  to  read  any  author  who  treated  Chris- 
tianity in  a  dispassionate,  wise  and  searching  man- 
ner. He  made  me  uneasy.  Consci-nce  would 
gather  strength.  I  found  it  more  difficult  to  stifle 
her  remonstrances.  He  would  rer;s!  early  instruc- 
tions and  impressions,  while  nay  happiness  could 
only  consist  with  their  obliteration." 

Yet  he  appears  to  have  taken  no  small  pains  to 
rid  himself  of  his  scruples; — "I  have  read,"  said 
he,  "  all  the  most  acute  and  learned  and  serious  in- 
fidel writers,  and  have  been  really  surprised  at 
their  poverty.  The  process  of  my  mind  has  been 
such  on  the  subject  of  revelation,  that  I  have  often 
thought  Satan  has  done  more  for  tne  than  for  the 
best  of  them  ;  for  I  have  had,  and  could  have  pro- 
duced, arguments,  that  appeared  to  me  far  more 

*  See  Remains:  on  the  Influence  of  the  Parental  Char- 
acter. 


CHARACTER  OF   MR.  CECIL. 


11 


weighty  than  any  I  ever  found  in  them  against 
Revelation." 

He  did  not  proceed  in  this  career  of  sin  without 
occasional  checks  of  conscience.  Take  the  fol- 
lowing instance  : — 

"My  father  had  a  religious  servant.  I  frequent- 
ly cursed  and  reviled  him.  He  would  only  smile 
on  me.  That  went  to  my  heart.  I  felt  that  he 
looked  on  me  as  a  deluded  creature.  I  felt  that  he 
thought  he  had  something  which  1  knew  not  how 
to  value,  anil  that  he  was  therefore  greatly  my  su- 
perior. I  felt  there  was  a  real  dignity  in  his  con- 
duct. It  made  me  appear  little  even  in  my  own 
eyes.  If  he  had  condescended  to  argue  with  me, 
I  could  have  cut  some  figure  ;  at  least  by  compar- 
ison, wretched  as  it  would  have  been.  He  drew 
me  once  to  hear  Mr.  Whitefield.  I  was  17  or  18 
years  old.  It  had  no  sort  of  religious  effect  on  me, 
nor  had  the  preaching  of  any  man  in  my  uncon- 
verted state.  My  religion  began  in  contemplation. 
Yet  I  conceived  a  high  reverence  for  Mr.  White- 
field.  I  no  longer  thought  of  him  as  the  "Dr. 
Srpiintum"  we  were  accustomed  to  buffoon  at 
school.  I  saw  a  commanding  and  irresistible  ef- 
fect, and  he  made  me  feel  my  own  insignificance." 

For  this  daring  offender,  however,  God  had 
mercy  in  reserve  !  He  was  the  child  of  many  tears, 
instructions,  admonitions,  and  prayers ;  and,  though 
now  a  prodigal,  he  was  to  be  recovered  from  his 
wickedness  ! 

While  under  the  control  of  bad  principles,  he 
gave  into  every  species  of  licentiousness — saving 
that,  even  then,  the  native  nobleness  of  his  mind 
made  him  despise  whatever  he  thought  mean  and 
dishonorable.  Into  this  state  of  slavery  he  was 
brought  by  his  sin  ;  but  here  the  mercy  of  God 
taught  him  some  most  important  lessons,  which 
influenced  his  views  and  governed  his  ministry 


12 


CHARACTER   OF  MR.  CECIL. 


through  after  life,  and  the  same  mercy  then  res- 
cued him  from  the  slavery  to  which  he  had  sub- 
mitted. The  penetration  and  grandeur  of  his 
mind,  with  his  natural  superiority  to  sensual  plea- 
sures, marie  him  feel  the  littleness  of  every  object 
which  engages  the  ambition  and  the  desires  of 
the  carnal  man:  insomuch  that  God  had  given 
him,  in  this  unustial  way  of  bringing  him  to  him- 
self, a  thorough  disgust  of  t he  world  before  he  had 
gained  any  hold  of  higher  objects  and  better 
pleasures. 

It  was  thus  that  God  prepared  him  for  further 
communications  of  mercy.  And  here  he  felt  the 
advantage  of  having  been  connected  with  sincere 
Christians.  He  knew  them  to  be  holy,  and  he  felt 
that  they  were  happy.  "It  was  one  of  the  first 
things,"  said  lie,  "which  struck  my  mind  in  a  prof- 
ligate state,  that,  in  spite  of  all  the  folly  and  hy- 
pocrisy and  fanaticism  which  may  be  seen  among 
religious  professors,  there  was  a  mind  after  Christ, 
a  holiness,  a  heavenliness,  among  real  Christians.' 
He  added  on  another  occasion,  "  My  first  convic- 
tions on  the  subject  of  religion  were  confirmed 
from  observing  that  really  religious  persons  had 
some  solid  happiness  among  them,  which  I  had 
felt  that  the  vanities  of  the  world  could  not  give- 
I  shall  never  forget  standing  by  the  bed  of  my 
sick  mother.  ' Are  not  you  afraid  to  die  ?'  Iask- 
ed  her:  'No.'  'No!'  'Why  does  the  uncertainty 
of  another  state  give  you  no  concern  ?'  '  Because 
God  has  said  to  me,  Fear  not:  when  thou  passest 
through  the  tvatcrs  I  mil  be  with  thee ;  and  through 
the  rivers  they  shall  not  overfoiv  thee.'  The  remem- 
brance of  this  scene  has  oftentimes  since  drawn 
an  ardent  prayer  from  me,  that  I  might  die  the 
death  of  the  righteous." 

His  mind  opened  very  gradually  to  the  truths  of 
the  Gospel:  and  the  process  through  which  he 


CHARACTER  OF   MR.  CECIL* 


13 


was  led  is  a  striking  evidence  of  the  imminence 
of  his  past  danger.  "  My  feelings,"  he  said,  "when 
I  was  first  beginning  to  recover  from  my  infidelity, 
prove  that  I  had  been  suffered  to  go  great  lengths ; 
and,  to  a  very  awful  degree  to  believe  my  own  lie. 
My  tnind  revolted  from  Christianity.  God  did  not 
bring  me  to  himself,  by  any  of  the  peculiar  mo- 
tives of  the  Gospel.  When  I  was  about  twenty 
years  old,  I  became  utterly  sick  of  the  vanity,  and 
disgusted  with  the  folly,  of  the  world.  I  had  no 
thought  of  Jesus  Christ,  or  of  Redemption.  The 
very  notion  of  Jesus  Christ  or  of  Redemption  re- 
pelled me.  I  could  not  endure  a  system  so  degrad- 
ing. I  thol/srht  there  might  possibly  he  a  Supreme 
Being;  and  if 'here  were  such  a  Being,  be  might 
hear  me  when  I  prayed.  To  worship  the  Supreme 
Being  seemed  somewhat  dignified.  There  was 
something  grand  and  elevating  in  the  idea.  But 
the  whole  scheme  and  plan  of  >edemption  appear- 
ed mean,  and  degrading,  and  dishonorable  to  man. 
The  New  Testament,  in  itssentimeats  and  institu- 
tions, repelled  me;  and  seemed  impossible  to 
be  believed,  as  a  religion  suitable  to  man. 

The  grace  of  God  triumphed,  however,  over  all 
opposition.  The  religion  which  began  in  this  dis- 
gust with  the  world  and  disaffection  to  the  peculiar 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  made  rapid  advances  in 
his  mind.  The  seed  sown  in  tears  by  his  inestima- 
ble mother,  though  long  buried,  now  burst  into 
life,  and  shot  forth  with  vigor:  and  he  became  a 
preacher  of  that  truth,  which  once  he  laboured  to 
destroy.  Yet  grace  did  not  annihilate  the  natural 
character  and  qualities  of  the  mind  ;  though  it  reg- 
ulated and  directed  them.  The  Christian's  feel- 
ings and  experience  were  modified  by  the  consti- 
tution of  the  man.  After  a  long  course  of  spirit- 
ual watchfulness  and  warfare,  he  spoke  thus  of 
himself 


14 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


"  There  is  what  Bacon  calls  a  dry  light,  in  which 
subjects  are  viewed,  without  any  predilection,  or 
passion,  or  emotion,  but  simply  as  they  exist.  This 
is  very  much  my  character  as  a  Christian.  I  have 
great  constitutional  resistance.  Tell  me  such  a 
thing  is  my  duty — I  know  it  is,  but  there  1  stop. 
Talk  to  me  of  hell — my  heart  would  rise  with  a 
sort  of  daring  stubbornness.  There  is  a  constitu- 
tional desperation  about  me,  which  was  the  most 
conspicuous  feature  in  my  character  when  young, 
end  which  has  risen  up  against  the  gracious  mea- 
sures which  God  has  all  my  life  taken  to  subdue 
and  break  it.  I  feel  I  can  do  little  in  religion 
without  encouragement.  I  am  persuaded  and 
satisfied,  tied  and  bound,  by  its  truth  and  impor- 
tance and  value  ;  but  I  view  the  subject  in  a  dry 
light.  A  strong  sense  of  divine  friendship 
goes  a  vast  way  with  me.  When  I  fall,  God  will 
raise  me.  When  I  want,  God  will  provide.  When 
I  am  in  perplexity,  God  will  deliver.  He  cares  for 
me — pities  me — bears  with  me — guides  me — loves 
me  !" 

But  the  energy  of  Divine  Grace  was  most  con- 
spicuous, in  the  control  and  mastery  of  this  resist- 
ing and  high  spirit  of  which  our  friend  complain- 
ed. Nay,  if  there  were  any  one  Christian  virtue  in 
which  he  was  more  advanced  than  any  other,  it  ap- 
>pears  to  me  to  have  been  humility — not  that  hu- 
mility which  debases  itself  that  it  may  be  exalted, 
Jiud  which  is  offejided  if  its  professions  be  believed  : 
but  the  humility  which  arose  from  an  abiding  and 
jrr&wiing  conviction  of  his  infinite  distance  from 
the -standard  of  perfection,  and  the  little  compara- 
tive *ise  which  he  had  made  of  his  many  means 
aodlvelj>s  in  approaching  that  standard— a  humility 
thai  jeApieftsed  itself,  therefore,  in  a  teachableness 


CHARACTER    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


15 


of  mind*  a  ready  acknowledgment  of  excellence 
in  others,  and  a  candor  in  judging  of  oilier  persons 
which  are  seldom  equalled;  and  which  were  rare 
endowments  in  a  mind  that  could  not  but  feel  its 
own  powers,  and  its  superiority  to  that  of  most 
other  men.  But  God  has  a  thousand  unseen  meth- 
ods of  forming  and  cherishing  those  graces  in  his 
servants,  which  seems,  most  opposed  to  their  con- 
stitution, and  least  to  be  expected  in  their  circum- 
stances. 

Mr.  Cecil  gave  me  one  day  the  following  re- 
markable illustration  of  this  subject  in  his  own 
case: — It  is  a  nice  question  in  casuistry:  — How 
far  a  man  may  feel  complacency  in  the  exercise  of  tal- 
ent. A  hawk  exults  on  his  wing;  he  skims  and 
sails,  delighting  in  the  consciousness  of  his  powers. 
I  know  nothing  of  this  feeling.  Dissatisfaction 
accompanies  me,  in  the  study  and  in  the  pulpit.  I 
never  made  a  sermon  with  which  I  felt  satisfied  ; 
I  never  preached  a  sermon,  with  which  I  felt  sat- 
isfied. I  have  always  present  to  my  mind  such  a 
conception  of  what  might  be  done,  and  I  some- 
limes  hear  the  thing  so  done,  that  what  I  do  falls 
very  far  beneath  what  it  seems  to  me  it  should  be. 
Some  sermons  which  I  have  heard  have  made  me 
sick  of  my  own  for  a  month  afterwards.  Many 
ministers  have  no  conception  of  any  thing  beyond 

*  "A  friend,  who  knew  him  for  thirty  or  forty  year?, 
has  informed  me,"  says  Mr.  Wilson,  in  the  pennons 
preached  on  ocension  of  Mr.  Cecil's  death,  "  that  he  was 
more  ready  to  hear  of  his  faults  from  persons  whom  he 
esteemed,  than  most  men.  When  any  failings  were 
pointed  out  to  him,  he  usually  thanked  the  reprover,  and 
anxiously  inquired  for  further  admonitions.  1  have  ob- 
served myself,  (hat,  when  he  gave  advice,  which  he  did 
with  acuteness  and  decision,  he  was  quite  superior  to 
tbsl  little  vanity  which  is  offended  if  the  counsel  be  not 
followed." 


1G 


CHARACTER  OF   MR.  CECIL. 


their  own  world:  they  compare  themselves  only 
with  themselves;  and  perhaps  they  must  do  so:  if 
I  could  give  them  my  views  of  their  ministry,  with- 
out changing  the  men,  they  would  be  ruined; 
while  now  they  are  eminent  instruments  in  God's 
hands.  But  some  men  see  too  much  bevond 
themselves  for  their  own  comfort.  Perhaps  com- 
placency in  the  exercise  of  talent,  be  it  what  it 
may,  is  hardly  to  be  separated,  in  such  a  wretched 
heart  as  man's,  from  pride.  It  seems  to  me  that 
this  dissatisfaction  with  myself,  is  the  messenger 
sent  to  buffet  me  and  keep  me  down.  In  other 
men,  the  separation  between  complacency  and 
pride  may  be  possible  ;  but  I  scarcely  think  it  is 
so  in  me."* 

I  have  alluded  to  Mr.  Cecil's  rf.adt  acknowl- 
edgment OF  THE  WORTH  of  OTHERS  j  and  I  IllllSt 

add,  that  he  cultivated  that  discrimination  of  ex- 
cellence, which  leads  a  man  to  discover  and  es- 
teem it  in  the  midst  of  imperfections,  lie  had  an 
unfeigned'  regard  to  real  worth,  wherever  it  was 
found.  The  powers  of  the  understanding  have  of- 
ten fascinated  men  of  inferior  wisdom,  and  lessen- 
ed the  odiousness  of  an  immoral  state  of  heart  too 
plainly  seen  in  others;  but  if  the  excellencies  of 
the  head  and  the  heart  must  be  disjoined,  he  nev- 
er failed  to  value  that  which  is  most  truly  valuable. 
He  would  say — "  Such  a  friend  of  ours  is  what 

*  Mr.  Churton  has  a  remark  on  Dr.  Johnson,  some- 
what of  a  similar  nature  to  lliis  of  Mr.  C.  on  himself. 
He  thinks  lhat  "Johnson's  mmbid  melancholy  and  con- 
stitutional infirmities  were  intended  by  Providence,  like 
St.  Paul's  thorn  in  the  flesh,  to  check  intellectual  con- 
ceit and  arrogance  ;  which  the  consciousness  of  his  ex- 
traordinary talents,  awake  as  he  was  to  the  voice  of 
praise,  might  otherwise  have  generated  in  a  vcrj  culpa- 
ble degree." — Boiviell's  Life  of  Johnson,  2d  Edi.Svo. 
vol.  Hi.  p.  564. 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


17 


many  men  look  rlown  on,  as  a  weak  man  ;  but  I 
honour  his  wisdom  and  his  devotedness.  He 
throws  himself  out,  and  all  the  powers  which  God 
has  given  him,  into  the  service  of  his  Master,  in 
all  those  ways  which  seem  to  him  best;  and, 
though  perhaps  he  and  I  should  forever  differ  on 
the  best  way,  and  though  1  see  in  him  many  pecu- 
liarities and  weaknesses,  yet  I  honour  and  love 
the  man  ;  I  revere  his  simplicity  and  his  piety.  He 
is  what  God  has  made  him;  and  all  that  he  is  he 
puts  into  action  for  God."  If  Mr.  Cecil  was  at  any 
time  severe  in  his  remarks  on  others,  his  severity 
was  chiefly  directed  against  that  ignorant  vanity 
and  affectation,  which  push  a  man  forward  where 
great  men  would  retire,  and  which  make  him  dog- 
matical where  wise  men  would  speak  with  humil- 
ity and  candor. 

Closely  allied  with  his  humility,  was  that  open- 
ness to  conviction,  which  M r.  Cecil  possessed  in 
an  unusual  degree.  He  had  dived  so  deeply  into 
his  own  heart,  and  had  read  man  so  accurately — 
his  short-sightedness,  his  scanty  span,  his  pride, 
and  his  passions — that  he  was,  more  than  most 
men,  superior  to  that  little  feeling  which  makes  us 
quit  the  scholars  form.  Many  men  speak  of  them- 
selves and  of  all  around  them  as  in  a  state  of  pu- 
pilage and  childhood,  but  I  never  approached  a 
man,  on  whose  mind  this  conviction  had  a  moro 
real  and  practical  influence. 

Disinterestedness  was  a  pre-eminent  charac- 
teristic of  Mr.  Cecilasa  Christian.  His  whole  spirit 
and  conduct  spoke  one  language  : — "  Let  me  and 
mine  be  nothing,  so  that  thy  kingdom  may  come!" 
His  disinterestedness  was  grounded  on  his  convic- 
tion of  the  absolute  nothingness  of  all  earthly  good, 
compared  with  the  glory  of  Christ  and  the  inter- 
ests of  his  kingdom.  In  all  pecuniary  transactions 
of  a  private  or  public  nature,  he  was  governed  by 


18 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


this  principle  ;  and  made  a  free  and  cheerful  sac- 
rifice of  what  he  might  have  lawfully  obtained,  if 
he  thought  his  receiving  it  would  impede  his  use- 
fulness. 

On  one  occasion  of  this  nature,  he  explained  the 
noble  principle  on  which  he  acted  : — "A  Christian 
is  called  to  refrain  from  some  things,  which, 
though  actually  right,  yet  will  not  bear  a  good 
appearance  to  all  men.  I  once  judged  it  my  duty 
to  refuse  a  considerable  sum  of  money,  which  I 
might  lawfully  and  fairly  have  received,  because 
1  considered  that  sit  account  of  the  matter  could 
not  be  stated  to  some,  to  whom  a  different  repre- 
sentation would  be  made.  A  man  w  ho  intends  to 
stand  immaculate,  and,  like  Samuel,  to  come  for- 
ward and  say — Whose  ox,  or  whose  ass  have  Itaken  1 
must  count  the  cost.  I  knew  that  my  character 
was  worth  more  to  me  than  this  sum  of  money. 
By  probity,  a  man  honors  himself.  It  is  the  part  of 
a  wise  man,  to  wave  the  present  good  for  the  fu- 
ture increase.  A  merchant  sutlers  a  huge  quantity 
of  goods  to  go  out  of  the  kingdom  to  a  foreign  land, 
but  he  has  his  object  in  doing  so;  he  knows  by 
calculation,  that  he  shall  make  so  much  more  ad- 
vantage by  them.  A  Christian  is  made  a  wise 
man  by  counting  the  cost.  The  best  picture  I 
know  of  the  exercise  of  this  virtue,  drawn  by  the 
hand  of  man,  is  that  by  John  Bunyan  in  the  char- 
acters of  Passion  and  Patience. 

Associated  with  this  disinterestedness  of  spirit, 
was  a  singular  practical  relia.nce  on  provi- 
dence, in  all  the  most  minute  and  seemingly  in- 
different affairs  of  his  life.  He  was  emphatically, 
to  use  his  own  expression,  "  a  pupil  of  signs" — 
waiting  for  and  following  the  leadings  and  open- 
ings of  divine  Providence  in  his  affairs.  1  once 
consulted  him  throughout  a  very  delicate  and  per- 
plexing  affair.    In  one  stage  of"  it,  he  said  to  me, 


CHARACTER  OF   MR.  CECIL. 


19 


"You  have  not  done  tliis  thing  exactly  as  I  should 
have  felt  my  mind  led  to  doit.  I  feel  myself  in 
such  cases  like  a  child  in  the  middle  of  an  intricate 
and  perplexed  wood.  Two  considerations  weigh 
with  me:  first — If  I  could  see  all  the  involutions, 
and  relations,  and  hearings,  and  consequences  of 
the  affair,  then  I  might  feel  myself  ahle  to  move 
forward:  butsecondly — I  know  not  one  of  them, 
not  even  the  shadow  of  one,  nay,  hardly  the  prob- 
ability  of  such  and  such  issues.  Then  I  am  driv- 
en to  simple  reliance.  I  have  never  found  God 
fail  me  in  such  cases.  When  I  am  utterly  lost  and 
confounded  I  look  for  openings,  clear  and  evident 
to  my  own  conviction.  I  have  a  warrant  for  all 
this.  Our  grand  danger  with  reference  to  Provi- 
dence is,  that  we  should  walk  as  men  : — Are  ye  not 
carnal  and  walk  as  men  ?" 

On  another  occasion  he  said — "We  make  too 
little  of  the  subject  of  Providence.  My  mind  is  by 
nature  so  intrepid  and  sanguine,  and  it  has  so  of- 
ten led  me  to  anticipate  God  in  his  guidings,  to 
my  severe  loss,  that  perhaps  I  am  now  too  suspi- 
cious and  dilatory  ill  following  him.  However, 
this  is  a  maxim  with  mn — that,  when  I  am  waiting 
with  a  simple,  childlike  spirit  for  openings  and 
guidings,  and  imagine  I  perceive  them,  God  would 
either  prevent  the  semblance  of  them  from  rising 
up  before  me,  if  these  were  not  his  leadings  in 
reality,  or  he  would  preserve  me  from  deeming 
them  such  ;  and  therefore  1  always  follow  what 
appears  to  be  my  duty  without  hesitation." 

But  the  spring  of  all  these  Christian  virtues,  and 
the  master-grace  of  his  mind,  was  faith.  His 
whole  spirit  and  character  were  a  living  illustra- 
tion of  that  definition  of  the  apostle — Faith  is  the 
substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things 
unseen!  He  appeared  to  me  never  to  be  exercised 
with  doubts  und  fears.    His  magnanimity  entered 


20 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECII.- 


raost  strikingly  into  his  religious  character.  He 
was  convinced  and  satisfied  by  all  the  divine  dec- 
larations and  promises — and  he  left  himself,  with 
unsuspecting  confidence,  in  God's  hands.* 

I  quote  31  r.  Wilson's  testimony  to  the  pattence 
of  our  friend  under  afflictions.  "  He  was  not 
only,  in  opposition  to  all  the  tendencies  of  his" 
natural  dispositions,  resigned,  hut  cheerful  tmder 
his  trials.  I  have  seen  him  repeatedly,  at  bis 
Living  in  the  country,  return  from  his  ride  racked 
with  pain  ;  pale,  emaciated,  speechless.  I  have 
seen  him  throw  himself  all  along  upon  his  sofa, 
on  his  face, and  cover  his  forehead  with  his  hands; 
and  there,  without  an  expression  of  complaint,  en- 
dure the  paroxysm  of  his  disorder  i  and  I  have 
been  astonished  to  observe  him  rise  up  in  an  in- 
stant, with  his  wonted  dignity,  and  enter  upon 
conversation  with  cheerfulness  and  vigor.  He 
has  often  acknowledged  to  ine,  that  the  anguish 
he  felt  was  like  a  dagger  plunged  into  his  side, 
and  that  through  a  whole  summer  he  has  not  had 
two  nights  free  from  tormenting  pain.  Such  were, 
his  sufferings  for  ten  or  twelve  years  previous  to 
his  last  illness.  And  yet  this  was  the  man,  or 
rather  this  was  the  Christian,  from  whose  lips  I 
never  heard  a  murmuring  worrj," 

*  Mr.  Wilson  justly  remarks  of  our  friend,  that  "the 
determination  anil  grandeur  of  liis  mind  displayed  his 
faith  to  peculiar  advantage.  This  divine  principle  quite 
realized  and  substantiated  to  him  llie  things  which  *ro 
not  seen  and  rttrnal.  It  was  absolutely  like  another 
sense.  The  things  of  time  were  as  nothing.  Every 
thing  that  came  before  him  was  referred  to  a  spiritual 
standard.  His  one  great  object  was  fixed,  and  this  ob- 
ject engrossed  his  whole  soul.  Here  his  foot  stood  im- 
moveable, as  on  a  rock.  His  hold  on  the  truths  of  the 
Scriptures  was  so  firm,  that  he  acted  on  them  boldly 
and  unreservedly.  He  went  all  lengths,  and  risked  oil 
consequences,  on  the  word  and  promise  of  God." 


CHARACTER  OF   MR.  CECIL. 


21 


It  is  almost  needless  to  add  that  Mr.  Cecil  pos- 
sessed    REMARKABLE    DECISION    OF  CHARACTER. 

When  he  went  to  Oxford  he  had  made  a  resolu- 
tion of  restricting  himself  to  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
daily,  in  playing  on  the  violin  ;  on  which  instru- 
ment he  greatly  excelled,  and  of  which  he  was 
extravagantly  fond  :  but  he  found  it  impracticable 
to  adhere  to  his  determination;  and  had  so  fre- 
quently to  lament  the  loss  of  time  in  this  fascin- 
ating amusement,  that  with  the  noble  spirit  which 
characterized  him  through  life,  he  cut  his  strings, 
and  never  afterward  replaced  them,  lie  studied 
for  a  painter;  and,  after  he  had  changed  his  ob- 
ject, retained  a  fondness  and  a  taste  for  the  art : 
he  was  once  called  to  visit  a  sick  lady,  in  whose 
room  there  was  a  painting  which  so  strongly  at- 
tracted his  notice,  that  he  found  his  attention  di- 
verted from  the  sick  person,  and  absorbed  by  the 
painting  :  from  that  moment  he  formed  the  reso- 
lution of  mortifying  a  taste,  which  he  found  so  in- 
trusive, and  soobtructive  to  him  in  his  nobler  pur- 
suits; and  determined  never  afterwards  to  fre- 
quent the  exhibition. 

Nor  was  his  intrepid  and  inflexible  firm- 
ness less  conspicuous,  whenever  the  interests  of 
truth  and  the  honor  of  Christ  were  concerned. 
The  world  in  arms  would  not  have  appalled  him, 
while  the  glory  of  Christ  was  in  his  view.  Nor 
do  I  believe  that  he  would  have  hesitated  for  a 
moment,  after  he  had  given  to  nature  her  just 
tribute  of  feeling  and  of  tears,  to  go  forth  from  his 
family,  and  join  "  the  noble  army  of  martyrs"  who 
expired  in  the  flames  in  Smithfield,  had  the  honor 
of  his  Master  called  him  to  this  sacrifice  ;  nor 
would  his  knees  have  trembled,  nor  his  look 
changed. 

Yet  I  cannot  but  add  that  this  firmness  never  de- 
generated into  rudeness.    He  knew  and  observed 


22 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


all  those  decencies  of  life,  which  render  mutual  in- 
tercourse agreeable;  and  he  had  that  ease  of  man- 
ner, among  all  classes  of  society,  which  bespoke 
perfect  self-possession  and  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  world.  His  address  in  meeting  the  manners 
and  habits  of  thinking  of  persons  of  rank,  either 
when  they  were  inquiring  into  religion  or  under 
affliction  was  perhaps  scarcely  to  be  equalled. 

The  associations  in  our  friend's  mind  were  often 
of  a  very  humorous  kind.  He  had  a  strong  natu- 
ral turn  for  associations  of  this  nature,  which 
threw  a  great  vivacity  and  charm  over  his  familiar 
conversation — employed  as  it  was,  in  the  main, 
like  every  faculty  of  his  mind,  for  useful  ends.  He 
was  fully  aware,  however  of  the  danger  of  pos- 
sessing such  a  faculty,  and  the  temptations  to 
which  it  exposed  him;  prompted  and  supported  as 
it  was  by  a  buoyancy  of  spirits,  which  even  great 
and  lengthened  pain  could  scarcely  subdue.  I 
have  looked  at  him,  and  listened  to  him,  with  as- 
tonishment— when,  meeting  with  a  few  other 
young  men  occasionally  at  his  house,  we  have 
found  him  dejected  and  worn  out  with  pain — 
stretched  on  his  sofa,  and  declining  to  join  in  our 
conversation — till  he  caught  an  interest  in  what 
was  passing — when  the  question  of  an  inquiring 
or  burdened  conscience  has  roused  him  to  an  ex- 
ertion of  liis  great  mind — he  has  risen  from  his 
sofa — he  has  forgot  his  sufferings — and  he  has  left 
us  nothing  to  do  but  to  admire  and  treasure  up 
most  profound  and  impressive  remarks  on  the 
Scripture,  on  the  heart,  and  on  the  world. 

The  mention  of  his  humor  and  his  vivacity  of 
spirit  leads  tnc  to  remark,  that  I  am  not  writing  a 
panegyric,  but  drawing  a  character.  No  iikeness 
can  be  faithful,  while  the  best  original  is  such  as 
he  must  be  in  the  present  state,  if  it  carry  no 
shades.    I  have  no  wish  to  conceal  the  shades  of 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL, 


23 


this  extraordinary  character.  Sternness  and  levi- 
ty were  the  two  constitutional  evils,  which  most 
severely  exercised  him.  They  seem  to  have  heen 
the  necessary  result,  in  an  imperfect  being,  of  the 
union  of  that  masculine  and  original  vigor  with 
humor  and  an  ardent  fancy,  which  met  iti  the 
structure  of  his  mind.  So  far,  indeed,  had  grace 
triumphed  over  these  constitutional  enemies,  that 
the  very  opposite  features  were  the  most  promi- 
nent in  his  character;  and  no  one  could  approach 
him  without  feeling  himself  with  a  most  tender 
and  serious  mind.  I  speak  of  those  occasional 
ebullitions,  which  tended  to  remind  him,  that, 
though  he  was  invested  with  a  new  and  triumph- 
ant nature,  he  was  yet  at  home  in  the  body,  and 
subject  to  the  recurrence  of  his  constitutional  in- 
firmities. 

Yet,  though  Mr.  Cecil  felt  occasionally  tempta- 
tions to  levity,  through  the  buoyancy  and  spring  of 
his  animal  spirits,  his  prevailing  temper  was  of  a 
quite  opposite  description.  A  sensibility  of  spirit, 
with  his  view  of  human  nature  and  of  the  world, 
threw  a  cast  of  melancholy  over  his  mind.  He 
was  far  more  disposed  to  weep  over  the  guilt  and 
misery  of  man,  than  to  smile  at  his  follies.  "  I 
have,"  said  he,  "a  salient  principle  in  me.  My 
spirits  never  sink.  Yet  I  have  a  strong  dash  of 
melancholy.  It  is  a  high  and  exquisite  feeling. 
When  I  first  awake  in  the  morning,  I  could  often 
weep  with  pleasure.  The  holy  calm — the  silence — 
the  freshness — thrill  through  my  soul.  At  such 
moments  I  should  feel  the  presence  of  any  person 
to  be  intrusion  and  impertinence,  and  common  af- 
fairs, nauseous.  The  stillness  of  an  empty  house 
is  paradise  to  me.  The  man  who  has  never  felt 
thus  cannot  be  made  to  understand  what  I  mean." 

"  Hooker's  dying  thought,"  he  added,  is  "  conge- 
nial to  my  spirit.    '  I  am  going  to  leave  a  world  dis- 


24 


CHARACTER  OF   MR.  CECIL. 


ordered,  and  church  disorganized,  for  a  world  and 
a  church  where  every  angel  and  every  rank  of  an- 
gels stand  hefore  the  throne  in  the  very  post  God 
lias  assigned  them.'  I  urn  obliged  habitually  to 
turn  my  eye  from  the  wretched  disorders  of  the 
world  and  the  church,  to  the  beauty,  harmony, 
meekness,  and  glory  of  a  better  world." 

On  another  occasion,  he  said — "  I  have  been 
long  in  the  habit  of  viewing  every  thing  around 
me  as  in  a  state  of  alienation.  I  have  no  hold 
on  my  dearest  comforts.  My  children  must  sepa- 
rate from  me.  One  has  his  lot  cast  in  one  place, 
and  another  elsewhere.  It  may  be  my  particular 
leading,  but  I  have  never  leaned  toward  my  com- 
forts without  finding  them  give  way.  A  sharp 
warning  has  met  me — 'These  are  aliens,  and  as  an 
alien  live  thou  among  them.'  We  may  use  our 
comforts  by  the  way.  We  may  take  up  the  pitch- 
er to  drink,  but  the  moment  we  begin  to  admire, 
God  will  in  love  dash  it  to  pieces.  But  I  feel  no 
such  alienation  from  the  church.  I  am  united  to 
Christ,  and  to  all  bis  glorified  and  living  members, 
by  an  indissoluble  bond.  Here  my  mind  ran  cen- 
tre and  sympathize,  without  suspicion  or  fear." 

"  I  feel,"  he  would  say  "a  congeniality  with  the 
character  of  Jeremiah.  I  seem  to  understand  him. 
I  could  approach  him,  and  feel  encouraged  to  fa- 
miliarity. It  is  not  so  with  Elijah  or  Ezekiel. 
There  is  a  rigor  or  severity  about  them,  which 
seem  to  repel  me  to  a  distance,  and  excite  rever- 
ence rather  than  sympathy  and  love." 

In  a  very  interesting  case  on  which  I  consulted 
hirn,  he  gave  me  a  striking  view  of  this  feature  in 
his  character — "I  should  have  fallen  myself  into 
an  utterly  different  mode  of  conducting  the  affair. 
But  you  have  not  the  melancholy  in  your  constitu- 
tion which  I  have,  and  therefore  to  look  for  my 
mode  of  thinking  in  you,  would  be  expecting  what 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


23 


ought  not  to  be  expected.  This  is  a  strong  alter- 
native in  your  dispensation.  Now  I  have  lonjr 
been  in  the  habit  of  viewing  every  thing  of  that 
aspect  rather  in  a  melancholy  light.  You  are 
standing  on  the  justice,  the  reason,  the  truth  of 
your  cause.  I  should  have  heard  God  saying — 
1  Son  of  man,  follow  me.'  It  would  have  led  me  in- 
to a  speculative — mystical  sort  of  way.  I  should 
have  seen  in  it  the  flood  that  is  sweeping  over 
the  eartli — the  utter  bankruptcy  of  all  human 
affairs.  Most  men,  if  they  had  stood  by  and  com- 
pared our  conduct,  would  have  commended  yours 
as  rational,  but  condemned  mine  as  enthusisastic — 
as  connecting  things  together  which  had  no  prop- 
er connexion  ;  hut  this  is  my  way  of  viewing  every 
alterative  in  my  dispensation," 

"  The  heart,"  said  he,  "  must  be  divorced  from 
its  idols.  Age  does  a  great  deal  in  curing  the  man 
of  his  frenzy  ;  but,  if  God  has  a  special  work  for  a 
man,  he  takes  a  shorter  and  sharper  course  with 
him.  Stand  ready  for  it.  I  have  been  in  both 
schools.  Bleeding  and  cauterizing  have  done 
much  for  me  ;  and  age  has  done  much  also — Can 
I  any  longer  taste,  what  I  eat  or  ivhat  I  drinld" 

Though  the  Memoir  of  Mr.  Cecil's  life,  and  the 
Letters  which  are  subjoined,  bear  ample  testimony 

tO  the  TENDERNESS  OF  HIS  RELATIVE  AFFECTIONS, 

yet  I  cannot  but  add  here  what  a  friend  wrote  on 
visiting  him,  many  years  before  his  decease,  at  a 
time  when  he  was  expecting  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Cecil ;— "  Mrs.  Cecil  was  ill.  I  called  on  Mr.  Cecil. 
I  fonnd  him  in  his  study,  sitting  over  his  Bible  in 
great  sorrow.  His  tears  fell  so  fast,  that  he  could 
only  utter  broken  sentences.  He  said,  '  Christians 
do  well  to  speak  of  the  grace,  love,  and  goodness 
of  God  ;  but  we  must  remember  that  he  is  a  holy 
and  jealous  God.  Judgment  must  begin  at  the 
house  of  God.    This  severe  stroke  is  but  a  farther 


2(3 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


call  to  me  to  arise  and  shake  myself.  My  hope  is 
still  firm  in  God.  He  who  sends  the  stroke,  will 
bear  me  up  under  it ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  if  I 
saw  the  whole  of  his  design,  I  should  say,  '  Let  her 
be  taken  !'  Yet,  while  there  is  life,  I  cannot  help  say- 
ing, '  Spare  her  another  year,  that  I  may  be  a  lit- 
tle prepared  for  her  loss  !'  1  know  1  have  higher 
ground  of  comfort:  but  1  shall  deeply  feel  the  tak- 
ing away  of  the  dying  lan  p.  Her  excellence  as  a 
wife  and  a  mother,  I  am  obliged  to  keep  out  of 
sight,  or  I  should  be  overwhelmed.  All  I  can  do, 
is,  to  go  from  text  to  text,  as  a  bird  from  spray  to 
spray.  Our  Lord  said  to  his  disciples,  Where 
is  your  faith  ?  God  has  given  her  to  be  my  com- 
fort these  many  years,  and  shall  I  not  trust  him 
for  the  future?  This  is  ouly  a  farther  and  more  ex- 
pensive education  for  the  work  of  the  ministry  :  it 
is  but  saying  more  closely,  'Will  you  pay  the 
price?'  If  she  should  die,  I  shall  request  all  my 
friends  never  once  to  mention  her  name  to  me.  I 
can  gather  no  help  from  what  is  called  friendly 
condolence.  Job's  friends  understood  grief  better, 
when  they  sat  down  and  spake  not  a  word." 

Our  departed  friend  was,  at  once,  a  public  and 
a  retired  man.  While  his  sacred  office,  exercis- 
ed for  many  years  in  a  conspicuous  sphere  brought 
him  much  before  the  w  orld,  his  turn  of  mind  was 
retired — he  courted  solitude — he  held  converse 
there  with  God,  and  his  own  great  spirit  mingled 
with  the  mighty  dead  ;  he  had  such  a  practical 
knowledge  and  deep  impression  of  the  nothing- 
ness of  the  whole  world  compared  with  spiritual 
and  eternal  realities,  and  he  had  so  deeply  felt  and 
so  thoroughly  despised  its  lying  pretensions  to  meet 
the  wants  and  to  satisfy  the  longings  of  the  immor- 
tal soul,  that  it  was  no  sacrifice  to  him  to  turn 
away  from  the  shows  and  pursuits  of  life,  and  to 


CHARACTER  OF   MR.  CECIL. 


27 


shut  out  all  the  splendour  and  seductions  of  the 
world. 

Yet  this  retired  spirit  was  not  unsocial,  morose, 
or  repulsive.  No  one  called  him  from  his  retire- 
ment to  ask  spiritual  counsel,  but  he  was  met  with 
tenderness  and  urbanity.  No  congenial  mind  en- 
countered his,  without  eliciting  sparks  both  of  be- 
nevolence and  wisdom.  Not  a  child  in  his  family 
could  can  y  its  little  complaints  to  him,  but  he  would 
stop  the  career  of  his  mind  to  listen  and  relieve. 

His  study  was  his  favorite  retreat.  His  station 
exposed  him  to  constant  interruption,  some  neces- 
sary and  others  arising  from  the  injudiciousness 
of  those  who  applied  to  him.  It  was  not  unusual 
with  him  to  make  use  of  his  power  of  abstraction 
on  these  occasions.  Time  was  too  valuable  to  be 
lavished  away  on  the  inconsideration  of  some  of 
those,  who  thought  it  necessary  to  call  on  him.  It 
was  generally  his  practice,  not  immediately  to 
obey  a  summons  from  his  study,  but  when  he  knew 
he  had  to  do  with  persons  who  would  occupy 
much  of  his  time  by  a  long  conversation  before  the 
business  was  brought  forward,  rather  than  hurt 
their  feelings  he  would  carry  down  in  his  mind  the 
train  of  thought  which  he  was  pursuing  in  his 
study,  and,  while  that  which  was  beside  the  pur- 
pose played  on  his  ear,  his  mind  was  following  the 
subject  on  which  it  had  entered  before. 

Some  men  are  at  home  in  society  ;  the  wide 
world  is  their  dwelling-place;  they  are  known 
and  read  of  all  men  ;  they  have  a  peculiar  talent 
for  improving  mixed  society.  But  this  was  not 
the  character  of  Mr.  Cecil.  He  unfolded  himself, 
indeed,  to  his  friends;  but  those  friends  could  not 
but  feel,  that,  when  they  broke  in  on  his  retire- 
ment for  any  other  objects  than  what  were  con- 
nected with  his  high  calling,  they  were  intruders 
on  inestimable  time.    I  had  indeed,  the  privilege 


29 


CHARACTER   OF  MR.  CECIL. 


and  happiness  of  free  access  to  him  at  all  times, 
for  a  considerable  course  of  years,  while  I  was  his 
assistant  in  the  ministry;  but,  for  the  reasons  just 
assigned,  though  I  was  a  diligent  observer  of  his 
mind  and  habits,  I  feel  myself  not  prepared  to 
speak  fully  of  his  more  domestic  and  retired  char- 
acter. 

"Retirement,"  he  said,  "is  my  grand  ordinance. 
Considerations  govern  me.  Death  is  a  mighty 
consideration  with  me.  The  utter  vanity  of  every- 
thing under  the  sun  is  another.  If  a  man  wishes 
to  influence  my  mind,  he  must  assign  considera- 
tions ;  and,  if  he  assigns  one  or  two  which  will 
weigh  well,  I  seem  impatient  to  stop  him  if  he  is 
proceeding  to  assign  more.  He  has  given  me  a 
consideration,  and  that  suffices.  The  'Night 
Thoughts'  is  a  great  book  with  me,  notwithstand- 
ing its  glaring  imperfections,  it  realizes  death  and 
vanity-  And,  because  this  is  the  frame  and  habit 
of  my  own  mind,  my  ministry  partakes  of  it:  and 
must  partake  of  it,  if  I  would  preach  naturally  and 
from  my  heart." 

In  surveying  the  personal  character  of  Mr.  Ce- 
cil, it  remains  to  speak  somewhat  more  fully  of 
his  intellectual  powers. 

His  imagination  was  not  so  much  of  the  play- 
ful and  elegant,  as  bold,  inventive,  striking,  and 
instinctively  judicious  ami  discriminating. 

His  taste  in  the  sister  arts  of  Painting,  Poetry, 
and  Music  was  refined,  and  his  judgment  learned. 
In  his  younger  days  he  had  studied  and  excelled 
in  painting  and  music  ;  and,  though  he  laid  them 
aside  that  he  might  devote  all  hie  powers  to  his 
work,  yet  the  savor  of  them  so  far  remained,  that 
I  have  been  witness  innumerable  times,  both  in 
public  and  private,  to  the  felicity  of  his  illustra- 
tions drawn  from  these  subjects,  and  to  the  supe- 
riority that  his  intimate  knowledge  of  them  gave 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


29 


him  over  most  persons  with  whom  they  happened 
to  be  brought  forward.  His  taste,  when  young, 
was  for  Italian  music  ;  but,  in  his  latter  years,  he 
was  fond  of  the  German  style,  or  rather  the  softer 
Moravian.  Anthems,  or  any  pieces  wherein  the 
words  were  reiterated,  he  disliked,  for  public  wor- 
ship especially,  as  they  sacrificed  the  real  spirit 
of  devotion  too  much  to  the  music.  His  feelings 
on  this  subject  were  exquisite.  "  Pure,  spiritual, 
sublime  devotion,"  he  would  say,  "should  be  the 
soul  of  public  music."  He  often  lamented  the  in- 
troduction of  any  other  style  of  architecture  in 
places  of  worship,  beside  that  which  was  so  pecu- 
liarly appropriate,  and  which,  because  it  was  so, 
called  up  associations  best  suited  to  the  purposes 
of  meeting.  He  said  most  strikingly — "I  never 
enter  a  Gothic  church,  without  feeling  myself  im- 
pressed with  something  of  this  idea — 'Within 
these  walls  has  been  resounded  for  centuries,  by 
successive  generations,  'Thou  art  the  King  of 
Glory,  O  Christ!'  The  very  damp  that  trickles 
down  the  walls,  and  the  unsightly  green  that 
moulders  upon  the  pillars,  are  far  mote  pleasing 
to  me  from  their  associations,  than  the  trim,  fin- 
ished, classic,  heathen  piles  of  the  present  fashion. 

His  powers  of  comparison,  analogy,  and  Judg- 
ment have  been  rarely  equalled.  These  had 
been  exercised  so  long  and  with  so  much  energy 
on  all  the  conditions  and  relations  around  him — 
on  the  word  of  God — on  his  own  mind — on  the 
history,  opinions,  passions,  prejudices,  and  mo- 
tives of  men  in  every  age,  and  of  every  character 
und  station — on  moral  causes  and  effects — on 
every  subject  that  can  come  within  the  grasp  of  n 
philosophic  mind — that  the  result  was  a  wisdom 
so  prominent  and  commanding,  that  every  man 
felt  himself  with  a  mind  of  the  very  first  order 
both   in  capability  and  acquirement.     In  some 


30  CHARACTER    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


cases,  wherein  my  wishes,  perhaps,  formed  my 
opinions;  and,  trying  to  hide  the  truth  from  my- 
self, I  have  asked  his  opinion  as  a  confirmation  of 
my  own — he  has  unmasked  my  heart  to  itself,  by 
his  wise  and  searching  replies.  His  decisions 
were  more  according  to  circumstances  than  in 
most  men ;  and,  when  he  gave  them,  it  would 
generally  he.  with  a  declaration  that  other  circum- 
stances might  wholly  change  tlie  aspect  of  the 
thing  ;  and  he  did  this  in  such  a  manner — if  I  may 
judge  by  my  own  case — as  often  to  make  a  man 
look  about  him,  and  bethink  himself  what  a  treach- 
erous and  blind  party  he  bad  to  transact  with  in 
his  bosom. 

To  those  who  did  not  know  him  intimately,  he 
might  sometimes  appear  to  want  a  quickness 
of  perception.  The  appearance  of  this  faculty  is 
often  assumed,  where  God  has  not  given  it. 
Where  the  mind  does  decide  rapidly,  its  con- 
clusions are  generally  partial  and  defective,  in  pro- 
portion to  their  rapidity.  Intuition  is  not  a  faculty 
of  the  present  condition  of  being,  whatever  it  may 
be  of  that  toward  which  we  are  advancing.  He 
affected  no  such  quality,  yet  he  possessed  more  of 
it  than  most  men.  When  he  did  not  fully  under- 
stand what  was  addressed  to  him,  he  said  so;  and 
Ins  mind  was  so  familiar  with  the  difficulty  of  dis- 
covering the  truth  through  the  veils  and  shades 
thrown  over  her  by  prejudice  and  self-love,  that 
lie  did  not  hastily  bring  himself  to  think  that  he 
possessed  your  full  meaning. 

His  good  sense  and  wisdom  led  him  to  avow 

ALL    PECULIARITY  AND    ECCENTRICITY.     He  W8S 

decidedly  adverse  to  every  thing  of  this  nature. 
"  When  any  thing  peculiar  appears,"  he  would  say, 
"in  a  religious  man's  manners,  or  dress,  or  furni- 
ture, this  is  supposed  by  the  world  to  constitute- 
bis  religion,    A  clergyman  indeed  is  allowed  by 


CI1ARACTER    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


31 


common  consent,  and  indeed  it  is  but  decent  in 
biro,  to  have  every  thing  about  him  plain  and  sub- 
stantial, rather  than  ornamental  and  fashionable." 

The  personal  character  of  Mr.  Cecil  had  a 
manifest  influence  on  his  MINISTERIAL.  We 
find  him  frequently  accounting  for  those  views  and 
feelings  which  prevailed  in  his  ministry,  by  a  ref- 
erence to  his  constitution  and  his  early  history. 

His   SENTIMENTS   ON    THE   MINISTERIAL  OFFICE 

are  scattered  through  his  writings,  as  this  was  ev- 
er present  to  his  mind.  Wherever  he  was,  and 
whatever  was  his  employment,  he  was  always  the 
Christian  minister.  He  was  ever  on  the  watch  to 
do  the  work  of  an  evangelist ;  and  to  make  full  proof 
of  his  ministry. 

I  have  collected  together  his  thoughts  on  this 
subject  in  some  sections  of  his  "Remains;"  and  1 
think  it  impossible  that  any  young  minister  should 
read  these  thoughts,  without  imbibing  a  higher  es- 
timation of  his  sacred  office.  More  will  be  found 
on  these  points  in  the  following  views  of  his  min- 
isterial character  gathered  from  his  own  lips. 

These  views  were  most  striking  and  sublime. 
-' A  minister  is  a  Levite.  In  general,  he  has,  and 
he  is  to  have,  no  inheritance  among  his  brethren. 
Other  men  are  not  Levites.  They  must  recur  to 
means,  from  which  a  minister  has  no  right  to  ex- 
pect any  thing.  Their  affairs  are  all  the  little 
transactions  of  this  world.  But  a  minister  is 
called  and  set  apart  for  a  high  and  sublime  busi- 
ness. His  transactions  are  to  be  between  the  liv- 
ing and  the  dead — between  heaven  and  earth  ; 
anil  ho  must  stand  as  with  wings  on  his  shoulders. 
He  must  look,  therefore,  for  every  thing  in  his  af- 
fairs to  be  done  for  him  and  before  his  eyes.  1  am 
at  a  loss  to  conceive  how  a  minister,  with  right 
feelings,  can  plot  and  contrive  for  a  living.    If  he 


32 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECJL. 


is  told  that  there  is  such  a  thing  for  him  if  he 
will  make  such  an  application,  and  that  it  is  to  be 
so  obtained  and  so  only,  all  is  well — but  not  a  step 
farther.  It  is  in  vain,  however,  to  put  any  man  on 
acting  in  this  manner,  if  he  be  not  a  Levite  in 
principle  and  in  character.  These  must  be 
the  expressions  of  a  nature  communicated  to  him 
from  God — a  high  principle  of  faith  begetting  sim- 
plicity. He  must  be  an  eagle  towering  toward 
heaven  on  strong  pinions.  The  barn-door  hen 
must  continue  to  scratch  her  grains  out  of  the 
dunghill." 

He  thought  that  the  life  of  a  minister,  with  re- 
spect to  worldly  affairs,  ought  to  be  peculiarly 
above  that  of  other  men,  a  life  of  faith.  It  was 
his  maxim,  to  lay  out  no  money  unnecessarily — 
and,  with  this  principle,  he  regarded  his  purse  as 
in  Goers  hands,  and  found  it  like  the  barrel  of 
meal  and  the  cruise  of  oil.  He  confessed  that  he 
could  advise  this  conduct  in  no  case  but  in  that  of 
a  Christian  minister,  who  was  a  wise  and  prudent, 
as  well  as  right-hearted  manager  of  his  affairs. 
His  habit  was,  to  be  the  child  of  simplicity  and 
faith — acting  as  a  servant  of  God,  on  those  princi- 
ples which  he  judged  most  suitable  to  his  charac- 
ter and  station. 

He  had  exalted  ideas  of  ministerial  authority  — 
not  the  authority  which  results  merely  from  office, 
but  from  office  united  with  personal  character — 
not  the  claims  of  priestly  arrogance,  but  the  claims 
of  priestly  dignity.  "I  never  choose  to  forget  that 
lam  a  priest,  because  I  would  not  deprive  my- 
self of  the  right  to  dictate  in  my  ministerial  capac- 
ity. I  cannot  allow  a  man,  therefore,  to  come  to 
me  merely  as  a  friend,  on  his  spiritual  affairs,  be- 
cause I  should  have  no  authority  to  say  to  him, 
'Sir,  you  must  do  so  and  so.'  I  cannot  suffer 
my  best  friends  to  dictate  to  me  in  any  thing 


CHARACTER    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


33 


which  concerns  my  ministerial  duties.  I  have 
often  had  to  encounter  this  spirit ;  and  there  would 
be  no  end  of  it,  if  I  did  riot  check  and  resist  it.  I 
plainly  tell  them  that  they  know  nothing  of  the 
matter.  I  ask  them  if  it  is  decent,  that  a  man  im- 
mersed in  other  concerns  should  pretend  to  know 
my  affairs  and  duties,  better  than  myself,  who,  as 
they  ought  to  believe,  make  them  the  study  of  my 
life.  I  have  been  disgusted — deeply  disgusted — 
at  the  manner  in  which  some  men  of  naming  re- 
ligious profession  talk  of  certain  preachers.  They 
estimate  them  just  as  Garrick  would  have  esti- 
mated the  worth  of  players,  or  as  Handel  would 
have  ranged  an  orchestra.  '  Such  an  one  is  clever 
— he  is  a  master,' — Clever! — a  master! — Worth 
and  character  and  dignity  are  of  no  weight  in  the 
scale." 

These  views  are  just  and  noble  ;  and  they  are 
suited  to  his  own  great  mind,  and  the  entire  hold 
which  his  office  had  on  his  heart.  But— listening 
with  his  whole  soul  to  that  injunction,  Meditate  on 
these  things,  give  thyself  wholly  to  them — it  may  be 
doubted  whether  ho  did  not  sometimes  challenge 
to  his  office  more  respect  than  the  party  concerned 
could  be  expected  to  allow  due. 

Mr.  Cecil's  preparation  and  training  for 
this  exalted  office  have  been  already  spoken 
of  in  the  view  of  his  personal  character.  This 
was,  as  has  been  seen,  of  no  common  kind. 

II  is    QUALIFICATIONS    FOR    THE    DISCHARGE  OF 

the  ministry  were  peculiar.  The  great  natural 
powers  which  God  had  given  him,  were  moulded 
and  matured  by  the  training  and  discipline  through 
which  he  was  led,  and  were  consecrated  by  grace 
to  the  service  of  his  Master.  It  will  not  be  requi- 
site to  recapitulate  what  has  been  said  on  this  sub- 
ject.   I  shall  here  speak  only  of  those  qualifications 


34 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


which  were  more  appropriate  to  him  as  a  public 
teacher. 

His  learning  consisted  more  in  the  knowledge 
ol  other  men's  ideas,  than  in  an  accurate  acquain- 
tance with  the  niceties  of  the  languages.  Yet  lie 
was  better  acquainted  with  these,  than  many  who 
devote  a  disproportionate  time  to  this  acquisition. 
His  incessant  application,  chiefly  by  candle-light, 
when  at  Oxford,  to  the  study  of  Greek,  of  which 
he  was  enthusiastically  fond,  brought  on  an  almost 
total  loss  of  sight  for  six  months.  He  had  deter- 
mined to  become  a  perfect  master  bf  the  niceties 
of  that  refined  and  noble  language.  The  counsel, 
however,  which  he  received  from  Dr.  Bacon,  and 
which  is  recorded  in  his  "Remains,"  under  the 
head  of  "  Miscellaneous  Remarks  on  the  Christian 
Ministry,"  put  him  on  proportioning  his  attention 
more  according  to  the  future  utility  of  his  pursuits 
than  he  had  been  accustomed  to.  "I  was  struck 
with  his  advice,"  he  .-aid.  "I  had  an  unsettled  sort 
of  religion,  but  enough  to  make  me  sec  and  choose 
the  truth  which  he  set  before  me." 

So  solid  and  extensive  was  Mr.  Cecil's  real 
learning,  that  there  were  no  important  points,  in 
morals  or  religion,  on  which  he  had  not  read  the 
best  authors,  and  made  up  his  mind  on  the  most 
mature  deliberation ;  nor  could  any  topic  be 
started  in  history  or  philosophy,  on  subjects  of  art 
or  of  science,  with  which  he  was  not  found  more 
generally  acquainted  than  other  men.  But  while 
he  could  lay  these  parts  of  learning  under  contri- 
bution to  aid  him  in  his  one  object  of  impressing 
truth  on  man,  he  was  a  master  in  the  learning 
which  is  more  peculiarly  appropriate  to  his  pro- 
fession. He  was  so  much  in  the  habit  of  daily 
reading  the  Scriptures  in  the  originals,  that,  as  he 
told  me,  he  went  to  this  employ  naturally  and  in- 
sensibly.   He  limited  himself  to  no  stated  quan- 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


35 


tity  ;  but,  as  his  time  allowed,  he  read  one  or  two, 
and  sometimes  five  or  six  chapters  daily. 

Mr.  Cecil  had  the  power  of  exciting  and 
preserving  attention  aliove  most  men.  All 
his  effort  was  directed,  first  to  engage  attention, 
and  then  to  repay  it — to  allure  curiosity,  and  then 
to  gratify  it. 

Till  the  attention  was  gained  he  felt  that  noth- 
ing could  be  effected  on  the  mind.  Sometimes  he 
would  have  recourse  to  unusual  methods,  suited 
indeed  to  his  auditory,  to  awaken  and  fix  their 
minds.  "I  was  once  preaching,"  he  said,  "a 
Charity  Sermon  where  the  congregation  was  very 
large,  and  chiefly  of  the  lower  order.  I  found  it 
impossible  by  my  usual  method  of  preaching,  to 
gain  their  attention.  It  was  in  the  afternoon,  and 
my  hearers  seemed  to  meet  nothing  in  my  preach- 
ing, which  was  capable  of  rousing  them  out  of  the 
stupefaction  of  a  full  dinner.  Some  lounged,  and 
some  turned  their  hacks  on  me.  'I  must  have 
attention,'  1  said  to  myself.  Twill  be  heard.' 
— The  case  was  desperate;  and,  in  despair,  1 
sought  a  desperate  remedy.  I  exclaimed  aloud, 
'Last  Monday  morning  a  man  was  hanged  at 
Tyburn,' — instantly  the  face  of  things  was 
changed!  All  was  silence  and  expectation!  I 
caught  their  ear,  and  retained  it  through  the  Ser- 
mon." This  anecdote  leads  me  to  observe  that 
Mr.  Cecil  had,  in  an  unusual  degree,  the  talent  of 
adapting  his  ministry  to  his  congregation.  While 
he  was,  for  instance,  preaching  on  the  same  day 
at  Loth  bury,  at  St.  John's  morning  and  afternoon, 
and  at  Spitalfields  in  the  evening — he  found  four 
congregations  at  these  places,  in  many  respects, 
quite  distinct  from  one  another;  and  yet  he 
adapted  his  preaching,  with  admirable  skill,  to 
meet  their  habits  of  thinking. 


36 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


But  when  lie  had  gained  the  attention,  he  wag 
ever  on  the  watch  not  to  weary  it.  He  seemed  to 
have  continually  before  his  eyes  the  sentiments  of 
our  great  critic  and  moralist:*  "Tediousness  is 
the  most  fatal  of  all  faults  ;  negligences  or  errors 
are  single  and  local,  but  tediousness  pervades  the 
whole  ;  other  faults  are  censured  and  forgotten  ; 
but  the  power  of  tediousness  propagates  itself. 
He  that  is  weary  the  first  hour,  is  more  weary  the 
second  ;  as  bodies  forced  into  n:otion,  contrary  to 
their  tendency,  pass  more  and  more  slowly  through 
every  successive  interval  of  space."  fllr.  Cecil 
would  say,  "You  have  a  certain  quantity  of  at- 
tention to  work  on  :  make  the  best  use  of  it  while 
it  lasts.  The  iron  will  cool,  and  then  nothing,  or 
worse  than  nothing,  is  done.  If  a  preacher  will 
leave  unsaid  all  vain  repetitions,  and  watch  against 
undue  length  in  his  entrance  and  width  in  his  dis- 
cussion, he  may  limit  a  written  sermon  to  half 
an  hour,  and  one  from  notes  to  forty  minutes: 
and  this  time  he  should  not  allow  himself  to  ex- 
ceed, except  on  special  occasions." 

His  power  of  illustration  was  great  and 
versatile.  His  topics  were  chiefly  taken  from 
Scripture  and  from  life.  His  manner  of  illus- 
trating his  subjects  by  Scripture  examples,  was 
the  most  finished  I  ever  heard.  They  were  never 
introduced  violently  or  abruptly;  but  his  matter 
was  so  moulded  in  preparation  for  them,  by  a  few 
well  turned  sentences,  that  the  illustration  seemed 
to  be  placed  in  the  Scripture  almost  for  the  sake 
of  the  doctrine.  The  general  features  of  the 
character  or  history  were  left  in  the  back-ground, 
and  those  only  which  were  appropriate  to  the 
matter  in  hand  were  brought  forward,  and  were 
thus  presented  with  great  force  to  the  mind.  His 


*  Lives  of  the  Poets,  Vol.  iii.  p.  35. 


CHARACTER   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


37 


talent  in  discriminating  tlie  striking  features,  and 
connecting  tliem  with  his  matter,  was  so  peculiar, 
that  the  histories  of  Abraham*  of  Jacob,  of  David, 
and  of  St.  Paul,  seemed  in  his  hands  to  be  ever 
new,  and  to  be  exhaustless  treasures  of  illustration. 

The  turn  both  of  his  mind  and  of  his  experi- 
ence seemed  to  lead  him  to  this  method.  What 
he  did,  therefore,  with  ease  and  feeling,  it  was 
natural  should  be  done  frequently  ;  and,  accord- 
ingly, I  have  scarcely  ever  heard  a  sermon  from 
him  in  which  there  were  not  repeated  exercises 
of  this  peculiar  talent;  and  in  some  sermons  al- 
most the  entire  subject  has  been  treated  in  this 
manner. 

This  talent  of  illustrating  his  subjects,  and  par- 
ticularly of  seizing  incidents  for  improvement, 
gave  an  edge  to  his  wise  admonitions  in  private  ; 
and  fixed  them  deep  in  the  memory.  Riding 
with  a  friend  in  a  very  windy  day,  the  dust  was 
so  troublesome,  that  bis  companion  wished  they 
were  at  their  journey's  end,  where  they  might 
ride  in  the  fields  free  from  dust;  and  this  wish 
he  repeated  more  than  once  while  on  the  road. 
When  they  reached  the  fields,  the  flies  so  teazed 
his  friend's  horse,  that  he  could  scarcely  keep  his 
seat  on  the  saddle.  On  his  bitterly  complaining, 
"Ah!  Sir,"  said  Mr.  Cecil,  "when  you  were  in 
the  road  the  dust  was  your  oidy  trouble,  and  all 
your  anxiety  was  to  get  into  the  fields;  you 
forgot  that  the  fly  was  there  !  Now  this  is  a  true 
picture  of  human  life;  and  you  will  find  it  so  in 
all  the  changes  you  make  in  furure.  We  know 
the  trials  of  our  present  situation  ;  but  the  next 
will  have  trials,  and  perhaps  worse,  though  they 
may  ho  of  a  different  kind." 

At  another  time,  the  same  friend  said  he  should 
esteem  it  a  favor,  if  he  would  tell  him  of  any 
thing  which  he  might  in  future  see  in  his  con- 


33 


CHARACTER   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


duct  which  he  thought  improper.  "Well,  Sir!" 
he  said,  "  many  a  man  has  directed  the  watch- 
man to  call  him  early  in  the  morning,  and  has 
then  appeared  very  anxious  for  his  coming  early ; 
but  the  watchman  has  come  before  he  has  been 
ready  for  him  !  I  have  seen  many  people  very 
desirous  of  being  told  their  faults;  but  I  have 
seen  very  lew  who  were  pleased  vrhsn  they  re- 
ceived the  information.  However,  I  like  to  re- 
ceive an  invitation,  and  I  have  no  reason  to 
suppose  you  will  be  displeased  till  I  sec  it  so. 
I  shall  therefore  remember  that  you  have  asked 
for  it." 

His  style,  particularly  in  preaching  and  in  free 
conversation,  was  easy  and  natural.  If  be  ever 
labored  bis  expression,  it  was  in  search  of  em- 
phasis, rather  than  precision — of  words  which 
would  penetrate  the  soul,  rather  than  round  his 
period  and  float  in  the  ear.  He  considered  that 
vigorous  conceptions  would  clothe  themselves  in 
the  fittest  expressions — 

Verhaque  prnvisam  rem  non  invila  sequcntur. 

Or,  as  Milton  has  admirably  said — "True  elo- 
quence I  find  to  be  none,  but  the  serious  and 
hearty  love  of  truth  :  and  that,  whose  mind  so- 
ever is  fully  possessed  with  a  fervent  desire  to 
know  good  things,  and  with  the  dearest  charity  to 
infuse  the  knowledge  of  them  into  others,  when 
such  a  man  would  speak,  his  words,  like  so 
many  nimble  and  airy  servitors,  trip  about  him  at 
command,  and  in  well  ordered  files,  as  he  would 
wish,  fall  abruptly  into  their  own  places." 

His  written  style  has  less  ease  than  that  of  his 
conversation  or  preaching.  He  excelled  rather  in 
strong  intuitive  setise,  than  in  a  train  of  argu- 
ments; and  more  in  the  liveliness  of  his  thoughts, 
than  in  their  urrangemetit.    He  would  put  down 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


30 


his  thoughts  as  they  arose— often  at  separate 
times,  and  as  suggested  by  the  occasion— and  was 
not  always  nice  in  rejecting  obsolete  expressions, 
or  antithesis  in  sense.  This  occasioned  a  want  of 
flow  and  ease  in  many  parts  of  his  writings,  which 
was  obviated  by  the  warmth  of  conversation  or 
preaching. 

Impression  was  the  leading  feature  of  his  min- 
istry. Perhaps  the  information  conveyed  by  it 
to  the  mind  was  not  sufficiently  systematic,  and 
minute.  He  had  seen  so  much  the  evil  of  spend- 
ing the  preacher's  time  in  doctrinal  statements,  that 
possibly  there  was  some  deficiency  in  this  respect 
in  his  own  practice.  When,  indeed,  he  had  to  in- 
troduce religion  to  his  congregations  at  St.  John's 
or  Ghpbham, OA  his  first  entering  on  those  charges, 
he  dealt  with  them  as  a  people  needing  informa- 
tion on  first  principles  :  but  my  remark  applies  to 
the  habit  and  course  of  his  ministry.  For,  how- 
ever true  it  is,  that,  when  a  man  becomes  a  se- 
rious reader  of  God's  word,  he  must  grow  in  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth  ;  yet  many  will  still  read 
the  Bible  with  an  indiscriiriinating  mind,  unless 
their  minister's  statements  give  them,  not  only  a 
lucid  general  view  of  doctrines,  but  somewhat  of 
a  systematic  and  connected  view 4  and  not  a  few 
— buried  in  the  cares  of  the  world — will  derive  all 
their  notions  of  the  system  of  divine  truth  from 
what  they  hear  in  public. 

Mr.  Cecil  wrote  and  spoke  to  mankind.  He 
dealt  with  the  business  and  bosoms  of  men.  An 
energy  of  truth  prevailed  in  his  ministry,  which 
roused  the  conscience  ;  and  a  benevolence  reigned 
in  his  spirit,  which  seized  the  heart:  yet  I  much 
question  whether  the  prevailing  effect  of  his 
preaching  was  not  determination  grounded  on 
conviction  and  admiration,  rather  than  on 
)  vorioN,     When  in  perfect  health  and  spirits, 


40 


CHARACTER    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


and  master  of  his  subject,  li is  eloquence  was  fin- 
ished and  striking:  but,  though  there  was  often 
a  tenderness  which  awakened  corresponding  feel- 
ings in  the  hearer,  yet  his  eloquence  wanted  that 
vehement  passion  which  overpowers  and  carries 
away  the  minds  of  others, 

— si  vis  mo  Acre,  dolendum  est 
Primum  i[isi  ti L> i  

This  is  the  great  secret  for  getting  hold  of  the 
heart.  But  as  not  much  of  the  impassioned  enter- 
ed into  the  composition  of  his  nature,  and  he  was 
at  the  same  time  pre-eminent  in  genius  and  judg- 
ment, it  could  not  hut  follow  that  admiraiion 
should  affect  the  hearer  more  frequently  thau 
strong  feeling.  A  friend  has  told  me  that  he 
has  often  lost  the  benefit  of  the  truth  which  Mr. 
Cecil  has  uttered,  in  admiration  of  the  exquisitd 
manner  in  which  it  was  conveyed.  And  I  have 
again  and  again  detected  this  in  myself;  and 
found  I  have  been  watching  eagerly  for  what 
would  fall  next  from  him,  not  in  the  spirit  of  a 
new-born  babe  that  desires  the  sincere  milk  of  the 
word  that  I  might  grow  thereby,  but  for  the  gratifi- 
cation of  a  mental  voluptuousness.  I  desire  no 
one  will  suppose  that  I  impute  to  him  any  of  the 
studied  artifices  of  eloquence.  No  man  sought 
more  than  he  did  that  his  hearers'  faith  should 
not  stand  in  the  wisdom  of  men,  but  in  the  power 
of  God.  No  man  more  sincerely  aimed  to  have 
li  is  speech  and  his  preaching  not  with  enticing 
words  of  man's  ivisdom,  but  in  demonstration  of 
the  spirit  and  of  power:  yet,  moreover,  because  the 
preacher  icas  wise  he  still  taught  the  people  knowl- 
edge ;  yea,  he  gave  good  heed,  and  sought  out 
and  set  in  order  the  messages  of  divine  mercy. 
The  preacher  sought  to  find  out  acceptable 
words,  yet  that  which  uas  written  was  upright, 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


41 


even  ivords  of  truth.  He  could  not  but  treat  his 
subjects  in  tliis  exquisite  manner,  while  his  taste, 
his  genius,  and  hi*  nature  remained  ;  yet  this  could 
not  hut  be  sanctified  to  his  Master's  honor,  while 
he  retained  ihe  perfect  integrity,  the  deep  convic- 
tion, and  the  singleness  of  eye  which  his  Master 
had  given  him.  That  it  was  the  farthest  possible 
from  trick  and  artifice  might  be  seen  in  his  most 
familiar  conversation ;  where  his  manner,  when 
he  was  fully  called  out,  was  exactly  what  it  was 
in  the  pulpit.  His  mind  grasped  every  subject 
firmly  :  ins  imagination  clothed  it  with  images — 
embodied  it — give  it  life — called  up  numberless 
associations  and  illustrations  :  it  was  realized :  it 
was  present  to  him  :  his  taste  and  judgment  en- 
abled him  to  seize  it  in  the  most  striking  points  of 
view. 

"His  apprehensions  of  religion,"  Mr.  Wilson 
most  justly  observes,  "were  grand  and  eleva- 
ted. His  fine  powers  governed  by  divine  grace, 
were  exactly  calculated  to  seize  all  the  grandeur 
of  the  Gospel.  The  stupendous  magnitude  of  the 
objects  which  the  Bible  proposes  to  man,  the  in- 
comparable sublimity  of  eternal  pursuits,  the  as- 
tonishing scheme  of  reden  prion  by  an  incarnate 
Mediator,  the  native  grandeur  of  a  rational  and 
immortal  being  stamped  with  the  impress  of  God, 
the  fall  of  this  being  into  sin,  and  poverty,  and 
meanness-,  and  guilt,  his  recovery  by  grace  to  more 
than  his  original  dignity  in  the  love  and  service  of 
his  Creator,  filled  all  his  soul.  lie  seemed  often 
to  labor  with  an  imagination  occupied  with  his 
noble  theme.  He  felt,  and  he  taught,  that  no  oth- 
er subject  was  worthy  the  consideration  of  man. 
In  comparison  with  it,  he  led  his  auditors  to  con- 
demn and  trample  on  all  the  petty  objects  of  this 
lower  world.  Iu  meanness,  its  uncertainty,  its 
deceit,  its  vanity,  its  vexation,  its  nothingness,  he 


42 


CHARACTER   OP   MR.  CECIL. 


set  fully  in  their  view.  He  even  made  them  look 
down  wiih  a  generous  concern  on  those  who  were 
buried  in  its  interests,  and  who  forgot,  amidst  the 
toys  of  children,  the  real  business  of  life." 

Some  of  his  printed  sermons  are  perfect  models 
of  simplicity,  vivacity,  and  effect.  That,  for  in- 
stance, on  the  "  Power  of  Faith." 

His  ohjntesance,  though  not  modelled  alto- 
gether after  the  artificial  rules  of  beamy,  beamed 
in  animated  conversation  and  in  the  pulpit,  with 
the  beauty  of  a  great  and  noble  mind.  Dignity 
and  benevolence  were  strongly  portrayed  there. 
The  variety  of  its  expression  was  admirable:  nor 
could  any  one  feel  the  full  force  of  the  sold  which 
he  threw  into  his  discourses,  if  this  expression  was 
concealed  from  him  by  distance  or  situation.  His 
action  was  graceful  and  forcible:  latterly,  owing 
perhaps  to  his  increasing  infirmities  and  almost 
uninterrupted  pain,  it  discovered,  1  think,  some 
constraint  and  want  of  ease. 

There  was  a  Familiarity  and  an  authority 
in  his  manner,  w  hich  to  strangers  sometimes  ap- 
peared dogmatism.  His  manner  was,  in  truth, 
like  that  of  DO  other  man.  It  was  altogether  orig- 
inal ;  and  because  it  was  original,  it  sometimes  of- 
fended those  who  bad  no  other  idea  of  manner 
than  of  that  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed. 
Yet  even  the  prejudiced  could  not  hear  him  with 
indifference.  There  was  a  dignity  and  command, 
a  decision  and  energy,  a  knowledge  of  the  heart 
and  the  world,  an  uprightness  of  mind  and  a  de- 
sire to  do  good,  and  all  this  united  with  a  tender- 
ness and  affection,  which  few  could  witness  with- 
out some  favorable  impressions. 

His  most  striking  sermons  were  generally  those, 
which  he  preached  from  very  short  texts,  such  as — 
My  soul  hangeth  on  thee — ill  my  frtsh  springs  are 
in  thee — O  Lord!  teach  me  viy  way — ,1s  thy  day  is 


CHARACTER    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


43 


so  shall  thy  strength  be.  In  these  sermons,  the 
whole  subject  had  probably  struck  him  at  once  ; 
and  what  conies  in  this  way  is  generally  found  to 
be  more  natural  and  forcible,  than  what  the  mind 
is  obliged  to  excogitate  by  its  own  laborious  ef- 
forts: As  the  subject  grows  out  of  the  state  of  the 
mind  at  the  time,  there  is  that  degree  of  affinity 
between  them  which  occasions  the  mind  to  seize 
it  forcibly,  and  to  clothe  it  with  vivid  colors.  A 
train  of  the  most  natural  associations  presents  itself, 
as  one  link  draws  with  it  its  kindred  links.  The 
attention  is  engaged — the  mind  is  concentrated — 
scripture  and  life  present  themselves  without  ef- 
fort, in  the  most  natural  relations  which  they  bear 
to  the  subject  that  has  full  possession  of  the  man, 
and  composition  becomes  easy,  and  even  inter- 
esting. 

It  was  a  frequent  and  very  useful  method  with 
him,  to  open  and  explain  his  subject  in  a  very  brief 
manner,  and  then  to  draw  inferences  from  it; 
which  inferences  formed  the  great  body  ol  the 
sermon,  and  were  rather  matters  of  address  to  the 
consciences  and  hearts  of  bis  hearers,  than  of  dis- 
cussion ;  so  that  the  whole  subject  was  a  kind  of 
application.  Tins  seems  to  me  to  have  been  his  most 
effective  manner  of  preaching.  Take  an  instance  : 
Mat.  xviii.  20.  I.  Explain  the  words.  II.  Raise 
from  them  two  or  three  remarks  :  Contemplate  I. 
The  Glory  and  Godhead  of  our  Master:  2.  The 
honor  which  he  puts  on  his  house  and  the  assem- 
bly of  his  Saints:  {.  The  privilege  of  being  one 
of  "Christ's  servants  whom  he  will  meet  :  4.  The 
obligations  lying  on  such  servants — What  manner 
of  servants  ought  such  to  be? 

lie  was  remarkably  observant  of  character. 
When  1  have  asked  his  opinion  of  a  person,  he  has 
frequently  surprised  me  with  such  a  full  and  ac- 
curate delineation  of  him,  as  he  could  have  ob- 


44 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


tained  only  l>y  a  very  patient  and  penetrating  ob- 
servation. The  reason  of  this  appeared,  when  I 
learnt  that  it  was  his  custom  in  his  sermon  notes, 
whet)  he  wished  to  describe  a  particular  character, 
not  to  put  down  its  chief  features  as  they  occurred 
to  his  mind  from  the  general  ohservations  which 
he  had  made  on  men  ;  hut  he  would  put  down  the 
initial  of  some  person's  name,  with  whom  he  was 
well  acquainted,  and  who  stood  in  his  mind  as 
the  representative  of  that  class  of  characters.  He 
had  nothing  to  do  then,  when  lie  came  to  enlarge 
on  that  part  of  his  Subject,  hut  strongly  to  realize 
to  himself  the  person  in  question,  and  he  would 
draw  a  much  more  vivid  picture  of  a  real  char- 
acter than  he  could  otherwise  do.* 

Mr.  Cecil  was  not  himself  led  to  the  knowledge 
of  God  through  great  terrors  of  conscience  :  his 
ministry  did  not,  therefore,  so  much  abound  in 
delineations  of  the  wnrkiugs  and  malignity  of  sin, 
as  in  those  topics  which  grew  out  ot  his  course 
of  experience  ;  nor  did  he  enter  frequently  or 
largely  into  the  details  of  the  spiritual  conflict. 
He  was  himself  drawn  to  God,  and  subdued  by  a 
sense  of  divine  mercy  and  friendship;  he  was  led, 
therefore,  to  detail  largely  the  transactions  of  the 
believing  mind  with  God,  in  the  exercise  of  de- 
pendence and  submission. 

*  Lavater  somewhere  mentions  an  admirable  practice 
of  his  own,  which  carried  uur  Iriend's  principle  into  con- 
stant use  in  his  ministry.  He  hxed  on  certain  persons 
in  his  congregation,  whom  he  considered  as  representa- 
tives of  the  respective  classes  into  whic  h  his  hearers 
might  be  properly  divided — ft  mo  an  ting*,  as  I  recollect,  to 
seven.  In  composing  his  discourses,  he  kepi  each  of 
these  persons  steadily  in  his  eye  ;  and  labored  so  to 
mould  his  subject  as  to  meet  the  case  of  every  one — by 
which  incomparable  rule  be  rendered  himself  intelligible 
and  interesting  to  all  clashes  of  his  flock. 


CHARACTER    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


45 


He  was  more  aware  than  most  men  of  the  dif- 
ficulty OF  BRINGING  DOWN  THE  TRUTH  TO  THE 
COMPREHENSION   OF   THE   MASS   OF  HEARERS. 

A  young  minister  may  leave  college  with  the 
best  theory  in  the  world,  and  he  may  take  with 
him  into  a  country  parish  a  determination  to  talk 
in  the  language  of  simplicity  itself;  but  the  actual 
capacity  to  make  himself  understood  and  felt  is  so 
far  removed  from  his  former  habits,  that  it  is  only 
to  be  acquired  by  experience.  Hear  how  wisely 
Mr.  Cecil  wrote  to  a  young  friend  about  to  take 
orders; — "I  advised  him,  since  he  was  so  near  his 
entrance  into  the  ministry,  to  lay  aside  all  other 
studies  for  the  present t,  but  the  one  I  should  now 
recommend  to  him.  I  would  have  him  select 
some  very  poor  and  uninformed  persons,  and  pay 
them  a  visit.  His  object  should  be  to  explain  to 
them,  and  demonstrate  to  them  the  truth  of  the 
solar  system.  He  should  first  of  all  set  himself 
to  make  that  system  peifectly  intelligible  to  them, 
and  then  he  should  demonstrate  it  to  their  full 
conviction  against  all  that  the  followers  of  Tycho 
Brahe,  or  any  one  else  could  say  against  it.  He 
would  tell  me  it  was  impossible :  they  would  not 
understand  a  single  term.  Impossible  to  make 
them  astronomers!  And  shall  it  be  thought  an  easy 
matter  to  make  them  understand  redemption!" 

He  gave  the  following  account  of  his  habit  of 

PREPARATION   FOR   THE   PULPIT  I  

"I  generally  look  into  the  portions  of  Scripture 
appointed  by  the  church  to  be  read  in  the  services 
of  the  day.  I  watch,  too,  for  any  new  light  which 
may  be  thrown  on  passages  in  the  course  of  read- 
ing, conversation,  or  prayer.  I  seize  the  occasions 
furnished  by  my  own  experience — my  state  of 
mind — my  family  occurrences.  Subjects  taken  up 
in  this  manner  are  always  likely  to  meet  the  cases 
and  wants  of  some  persons  in  the  congregation. 


46 


CHARACTER  OF   MR.  CECIL. 


Sometimes,  however,  I  have  no  text  prepared  : 
and  I  have  found  this  to  arise  generally  from 
sloth  :  1  go  to  work:  this  is  the  secret:  make  it  a 
business:  something  will  arise  where  least  ex- 
pected. 

" It  is  important  to  begin  preparation  early.  If 
it  is  driven  off  late,  accidents  mcy  occur  which 
may  prevent  flue  attention  to  the  subject.  If  the 
latter  days  of  the  week  are  occupied,  and  the  mind 
driven  into  a  corner,  the  sermon  will  usually  be 
raw  and  undigested.  Take  time  to  reject  what 
ought  to  be  rejected,  and  to  supply  what  ought  to 
be  supplied. 

"It  is  a  favorite  method  with  me  to  reduce  the 
text  to  some  point  of  doctrine.  On  that  topic  I 
enlarge,  and  then  apply  it.  1  like  to  ask  myself — 
1  What  are  you  doing  ? — What  is  your  aim  ?' 

"  I  will  not  foretell  my  own  views  by  first  going 
to  commentators.  1  talk  over  the  subject  to  my- 
self: I  write  down  all  that  strikes  me  :  and  then  I 
arrange  what  is  written.  After  my  plan  is  settled, 
and  my  mind  has  exhausted  its  stores,  then  I 
would  turn  to  some  of  my  great  Doctors  to  see  if 
I  am  in  no  error:  but  I  find  it  necessary  to  reject 
many  good  things  which  the  Doctors  say  ;  they 
will  tell  to  no  good  effect  in  a  sermon.  In  truth, 
to  be  effective,  we  must  draw  more  from  nature 
and  less  from  the  writings  of  men:  we  must  study 
the  book  of  Providence,  the  book  of  nature,  the 
heart  of  man,  and  the  book  of  God  :  we  must  read 
the  history  of  the  world  :  we  must  deal  with  mat- 
ters of  fact  before  our  eyes." 

In  respect  to  mechanical  preparation,  Mr.  Cecil 
was  in  the  habit  of  using  eight  quarto  pages,  on 
which  he  put  down  his  main  and  subordinate  di- 
visions, with  such  hints  as  he  thought  requisite. 
These  notes,  written  iu  an  open  and  legible  man- 
ner, such  as  his  eye  could  catch  with  ease,  he  put 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


47 


into  one  of  the  portable  quarto  Bibles,  of  which 
several  editions  were  printed  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  in  a  good  type,  but,  in  consequence  of 
the  closeness  and  excellence  of  the  paper,  such  as 
bind  up  in  a  very  compact  size.  Of  these  editions 
there  are  some*  which  are  printed  page  for  page 
with  another:  and  one  of  these  editions  Mr.  Cecil 
was  in  the  constant  habit  of  using,  both  in  public 
and  in  private,  from  the  mechanical  assistance 
afforded  to  him  in  turning  to  passages  from  the 
recollection  of  the  part  of  the  page  in  which  they 
occurred. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  hear  Mr.  Cecil's  own 

ACCOUNT    OF    HIS    MANNER    OF    COMMENCING  HIS 

ministry;  as  it  notices  mistakes  from  which  be 
was  not  only  early  but  most  effectually  delivered, 
and  his  remarks  on  them  may  afford  a  serious 
caution  to  others. 

"I  set  out,"  he  said,  "  with  levity  in  the  pulpit. 
It  was  above  two  years  before  I  could  get  the 
victory  over  it,  though  I  strove  under  sharp  pierc- 
ings of  conscience.  3Iy  plan  was  wrong.  I  had 
bad  counsellors.  I  thought  preaching  was  only 
entering  the  pulpit,  and  letting  off*  a  sermon.  I 
really  imagined  this  was  trusting  to  God,  and 
doing  the  thing  cleverly.  1  talked  with  a  wise 
and  pious  man  on  the  subject.  'There  is  noth- 
ing,' said  be,  'like  appealing  to  facts.'  We  sat 
down  and  named  names.  We  found  men  in  my 
habit  disreputable.  This  first  set  my  mind  right. 
I  saw  such  a  man  might  sometimes  succeed:  but 
I  saw,  at  the  same  time,  that  whoever  would  suc- 
ceed in  his  general  interpretations  of  Scripture, 
and  would  have  his  ministry  that  of  a  icorkman 

*  1  have  compared  four  of  these  Bibles,  viz .  Field's, 
London,  1643— Haye's,  Camb.  1(570,  and  also  that  of 
1077 — and  Buck's,  Camb.  without  date. 


4S 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CF.CIL. 


that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed — must  lie  a  laborious 
man.  What  can  be  produced  by  men  who  refuse 
this  labor? — a  few  raw  notions,  harmless  perhaps 
in  themselves,  but  false  as  stated  by  them.  What 
then  should  a  young  minister  do  ? 

His  office  says,  'Go  to  your  books.  Go  to  re- 
tirement. Go  to  prayer.' — 'No!'  says  the  enthu- 
siast, 'Go  to  preach.  Go  and  be  a  witness!' — 
A  witness! — of  what? — He  don't  know  !" 

Thus  qualified  by  nature,  education,  and  grace  — 
enriched  by  his  various  manly  acquisitions — and 
matured  by  experience,  he  appeared  in  the  pulpit 
unquestionably  as  one  of  the  first  preachers — per- 
haps the  very  first  preacher  of  his  time. 

He  Was  SINCERELY   ATTACHED   TO  THE  CHURCH 

OF  England,  both  by  principle  and  feeling — to 
her  order  and  decorum.  He  entered  into  the 
spirit  of  those  obligations,  which  lay  on  him  as  a 
clergyman  ;  and,  looking  at  general  consequences, 
would  never  break  through  the  order  and  disci- 
pline of  the  church,  to  obtain  any  particular,  local, 
and  temporary  ends. 

In  the  more  private  exercise  of  his  pastoral 
office,  as  a  counsellor  and  friend,  he  manifested 
great  faithfulness,  tenderness,  and  wisdom. 

In  proof  of  this  I  might  appeal  to  what  is  said 
in  the  "Remains,"  on  the  subject  of  "visiting 
deathbeds."  I  shall  here  subjoin  a  few  more  il- 
lustrations of  this  part  of  his  character. 

An  interview  was  contrived  between  him  and 
a  noble  lady,  by  some  of  her  relations.  She 
began  to  listen  to  the  affairs  of  religion.  Her 
life  had  been  gay  and  trifling.  She  knew  that 
he  understood  her  situation ;  and  she  began  to 
introduce  her  case  by  saying  that  she  supposed 
he  thought  her  a  very  contemptible  and  wicked 
creature.  "  No,  Madam,  I  do  not  look  at  you 
in  that  view.     I  consider  that  you  have  been  a 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL.  49 


wanderer;  pursuing  happiness  in  a  mistaken  road 
— an  immortal  being  fluttering  through  the  pres- 
ent short  but  important  scene,  without  one  serious 
concern  for  what  is  to  come  after  it  is  passed  b.y. 
And,  while  others  know  what  is  to  happen  to 
them,  and  wait  for  it,  you  are  totally  ignorant  of 
the  subject." — "  But,  Sir,  is  it  possible  to  arrive  at 
any  certainty  with  respect  to  a  future  condition?" 
— "Why  what  little  trifling  scenes  would  occupy 
your  ladyship  and  myself,  if  we  were  confined  to 
this  small  spot  of  a  carpet  that  is  under  our  feet  ! 
The  world  is  a  little,  mean,  despicable  scene  in 
itself.  But  we  must  leave  it ;  and  can  yon  sup- 
pose that  we  are  left  to  step  into  another  state, 
as  into  a  dark  abyss — not  knowing  what  awaits 
us  there  ?  No — the.  next  step  I  take  from  the 
world  is  not  into  a  void  that  no  one  lias  explored 
— a  fathomless  abyss — a  chaos  of  clouds  and  dark- 
ness— !mt  I  know  what  it  is — I  am  assured  of  it." 
He  said  to  me  in  reporting  this  conversation  M  I 
rested  on  this,  and  left  it  to  work  on  her  mind. 
I  thought  it  better  to  defer  the  subject  of  this 
assurance  to  try  her,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe 
that  she  feels  anxious  for  our  next  occasion  of 
meeting,  that  she  may  hear  how  we  can  make  out. 
the  grounds  of  our  assurance."  This  is  nun 
among  many  instances  of  the  wise  methods  in 
which  he  accommodated  his  instructions  to  the 
character. 

"Many  of  my  people,"  he  said,  "and  especially 
females,  talk  thus  to  me— '  I  am  under  con limial 
distress  of  mind.  I  can  lay  bold  of  no  permanent 
ground  of  peace.  If  I  seem  to  get  a  little,  it  is 
6oon  gone  again.  I  am  out  at  sea,  without  com- 
pass or  anchor.  My  heart  sinks.  My  spirit  faints. 
My  knees  tremble.  All  is  dark  above,  and  all  is 
horror  beneath.' — 'And  pray  what  is  your  mode 
of  life  ?'— "I  sit  by  myself.'— 'In  this  small  room, 


50 


CHARACTER   OF   SIR.  CECIL. 


I  suppose,  and  over  your  fire  ?'— <  A  considerable 
part  of  my  time.' — 'And  what  time  do  you  go  to 
l>ed  ?' — 1 1  cannot  retire  till  two  or  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning.' — 'And  you  lie  late,  I  suppose, 
in  the  morning?' — '  Frequently.'— '  And  pray  what 
else  can  you  expect  from  thfs  mode  of  life,  than 
a  relaxed  and  unstrung  system — and,  of  course, 
a  mind  enfeebled,  anxious,  and  disordered?  I 
understand  your  case.  God  seems  to  have  quali- 
fied me  to  understand  it,  I iy  especial  dispensations. 
My  natural  disposition  is  gay,  volatile,  spirited. 
My  nature  would  never  sink.  But  I  have  some- 
times felt  my  spirit  absorbed  in  horrible  appre- 
hensions, without  any  assignable  natural  cause. 
Perhaps  it  was  necessary  I  should  le  suffered  to 
ieel  this,  that  I  might  feel  (brokers;  for,  certainly, 
no  man  can  have  any  adequate  sympathy  with 
others,  who  has  never  thus  suffered  himself.  I 
can  feel  for  you  therefore,  while  I  tell  you  that  I 
think  the  affair  with  you  is  chiefly  physical.  I 
myself  have  brought  on  the  same  feelings  by  the 
same  means.  1  have  sat  in  my  study  till  I  have 
persuaded  myself  that  the  ceiling  was  too  low  to 
suffer  me  to  rise  and  stand  upright;  and  air  and 
exercise  alone,  could  remove  the  impression  from 
my  mind  !' 

ilis  taking  the  charge  of  St.  John's  Chapel 
is  the  most  important  event  of  his  life,  as  it  appears 
to  have  been  the  sphere  for  which  he  was  pe- 
culiarly raised  up  and  prepared  by  Providence. 

The  circumstances  attending  his  establishment 
ol  a  serious  and  devout  congregation  in  tins  place, 
mark  the  strength  and  simplicity  of  his  mind  ; 
while  they  may  show  the  necessity  under  which 
such  men  will  sometimes  be  brought,  of  acting  for 
themselves,  with  perfect  independence  of  the 
whole  body  of  their  brethren. 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


51 


These  circumstances  he  related  to  me  ns  fol- 
lows:— "  When  I  married,  I  lived  at  a  small  house 
at  Islington,  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  garden,  for 
which  1  paid  141.  a  year.  My  annual  income  was 
then  only  80?.  and,  with  this,  I  had  to  support  my- 
self, my  wife,  and  a  servant.  I  was  then,  indeed, 
minister  of  St.  John's,  hut  I  received  nothing  from 
the  place  for  several  of  the.  earlier  years.  When 
I  was  sent  thither,  I  considered  that  I  was  sent 
to  the  people  of  that  place  anil  neighborhood.  I 
thought  it  my  duty,  therefore,  to  adopt  a  system 
and  a  style  of  preaching  which  should  have  a  ten- 
dency to  meet  their  case.  All  which  they  had 
heard  before,  was  dry,  frigid,  and  lifeless.  A  high, 
haughty,  stalking  spirit  characterised  the  place. 
I  was  thrown  among  men  of  the  world,  men  of 
business,  men  of  reading,  and  men  of  thought. 
I  began,  therefore,  with  principles.  I  preached  on 
the  divine  authority  of  the  sacred  Scriptures.  I 
dissecteil  Sauriu's  Sermons.  I  took  the  sinews 
and  substance  of  some  of  our  most  masterly  wri- 
ters. I  preached  on  such  texts  as — If  ye  believe 
not  Moses  and  the  Prophets,  neither  will  ye  believe 
though  one  arose  from  the  dead.  I  set  myself  to 
explain  terms  and  phrases;  My  chief  object  was 
under-ground  work.  But  what  was  the  conse- 
quence of  this?  An  outcry  was  raised  against  me 
throughout  the  religious  world.  It  was  said,  that, 
at  other  places,  I  continued  to  preach  the  truth  ; 
but  that,  at  St.  John's,  I  was  sacrificing  it  to  my 
hearers.  Even  my  brethren,  instead  of  entering 
into  my  reasons  and  plan,  lay  on  their  oars.  My 
protectress  turned  her  back  on  me.  I  hesitated, 
at  first,  to  enter  on  so  great  a  risk ;  but,  with 
grandeur  of  spirit,  she  told  me  she  would  put  her 
fortune  on  the  issue  :  if  any  benefit  resulted  from 
it,  it  should  be  mine,  and  she  would  bear  me 
harmless  of  all  loss.    She  heard  mo  a  few  times, 


5-2 


CHARACTER   OF   MR-.  CECIL. 


and  then  wholly  withdrew  herself,  and  even  took 
away  her  servants.  Some  of  them  would  now 
and  then  steal  in  ;  but  as  they  reported  that  they 
got  'no  food,'  the  report  did  hut  strengthen  the 
prejudices  of  their  mistress.  She  could  not  enter 
into  my  motives.  I  was  obliged  to  regard  her 
conduct  as  Huss  did  that  of  the  man  who  was 
heaping  the  faggots  round  him,  O  sancta  simplici- 
tas !  She  could  not  calculate  consequences,  and 
was  unmoved  even  when  I  placed  my  conduct  in 
its  strongest  light — 'Can  you  attribute  any  but  the 
purest  motives  to  me?  Ought  not  the  very  circum- 
stances to  which  I  voluntarily  subject  myself  by 
adhering  to  the  plan  you  condemn,  to  gain  me  some 
credit  for  my  intentions?  Had  I  preached  here, 
in  the  manner  1  preached  elsewhere,  you  know 
that  the  place  would  have  been  crowded  by  the 
religious  world.  I  should  then  have  obtained 
from  it  an  income  of  200i.  or  300/.  a  year,  whereas 
I  now  sit  down  with  little  or  no  ad>  antage  from 
it,  though  I  have  a  family  rising  up  aliout  me. 
God  sent  me  hither  to  preach  to  this  people,  and 
to  raise  a  congregation  in  this  place;  and  I  am 
proceeding  in  that  system  and  way,  w  hich  seems 
to  me  best  adapted  under  God  to  meet  the  s-tates 
of  this  people  ;  and  w  hile  I  am  doing  this,  I  bring 
on  myself  temporal  injury.  I  can  have  no  possi- 
ble motive  to  sacrifice  the  truth  to  a  few  blind 
Pharisees,  who  will  never  while  I  live  become  my 
friends.' 

"I  labored  under  this  desertion  of  my  friends 
for  a  long  time  :  it  was  about  seven  years,  before 
affairs  began  to  wear  such  an  aspect,  that  my  pro- 
tectress and  others  allowed  that  matters  had  cer- 
tainly turned  out  as  they  could  not  have  foreseen. 
Several  witnesses  rose  up  of  undoubted  and  au- 
thentic character,  to  testify  the  power  of  the  grace 
of  God.    One  circumstance  w  ill  place  the  preju- 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


53 


dice  which  existed  against  me  in  a  strong  light. 
A  converted  Jewess,  who  had  heen  driven  from 
her  father's  house  on  account  of  her  sentiments, 
and  was  a  woman  of  great  simplicity  and  devotion, 
refused  to  accompany  a  friend  to  St.  John's  be- 
cause, as  she  said,  she  could  not  worship  there 
Spiritually,  and  rather  chose  to  spend  the  after- 
noon among  her  friend's  books;  in  which  employ- 
ment, I  doubt  not,  she  worshipped  God  in  the 
spirit,  and  was  accepted  of  him.  For  my  own 
satisfaction,  I  wrote  down  at  large  the  reasons  on 
which  I  had  formed  my  conduct,  for  I  was  almost 
driven  into  my  own  breast  for  support  and  justifi- 
cation. One  friend,  indeed,  stood  by  me.  He  saw 
my  plan  and  entered  fully  into  it;  and  said  such 
strong  tilings  on  the  subject  as  greatly  confirmed 
my  own  mind.  'The  Church  of  Christ,'  said  he, 
'must  sometimes  be  sacrificed  for  Christ.'  A  cer- 
tain brother  preached  a  charity  sermon;  and  in 
such  a  style,  that  he  seemed  to  say  to  me,  '  Were 
I  here,  you  would  see  how  1  would  do  the  thing.' 
What  good  he  did,  I  know  not;  but  some  of  the 
evil  I  know,  as  several  persons  forsook  the  chapel, 
and  assigneil  his  sermon  as  the  reason  ;  and  others 
expressed  themselves  alarmed  at  the  idea  of  Meth- 
odism having  crept  into  the  place.  It  was  illjudg- 
ed  and  unkind.  He  should  have  entered  into  my 
design,  or  have  been  silent." 

About  the  middle  of  July,  1800,  Mr.  Cecil  en- 
tered on  the  Livings  of  Bisley  and  Chobham  in 
Surry.  A  few  weeks  after  this  1  visited  him  with 
our  dear  and  mutual  friend  Dr.  Fearon. 

Here  I  saw  him  in  a  quite  different  situation 
from  any  in  which  I  had  seen  him  before,  and  was 
not  a  little  curious  to  remark  the  manner  in  which 
he  would  treat  a  set  of  plain  and  homely  villagers. 
Though  he  was  repeatedly  in  great  anguish  during 
the  day  which  we  passed  with  him,  yet  his  mind, 


54 


CHARACTER   OF   .MR.  CECIL. 


in  the  intervals,  was  so  vigorous  and  luminous  that 
I  have  scarcely  ever  gathered  so  much  from  him 
in  an  equal  time. 

On  this  occasion,  among  other  things  which  are 
recorded  in  his  "  Remains,"  he  stated  to  us  bis 
views  and  feelings  respecting  his  new  charge. 
"Bisley  is  a  rectory.  It  is  completely  out  of  the 
world.  The  farmers  in  these  parts  are  mostly  oc- 
cupiers of  their  own  land.  They  crowded  round 
me  when  I  first  came,  anil  were  eager  to  make 
bargains  with  me  for  the  tythe.  I  told  them  I  was 
ignorant  of  such  matters,  hut  that  I  would  propose 
a  measure  which  none  of  them  could  object  to. 
The  farmers  of  Bisley  should  nominate  three  fann- 
ers of  Ghobheill  parish  :  and  whatever  those  three 
Chohham  farmers  should  appoint  me  to  receive, 
that  they  should  pay.  This  was  putting  myself 
into  their  power  indeed,  but  the  one  grand  point 
with  me  was  to  conciliate  their  minds,  ami  pave 
the  way  for  the  gospel  in  these  parishes.  And  so 
far  it  answered  my  purpose.  I  had  desired  the 
three  farmers  to  throw  the  weight,  in  dubious  cases 
into  the  termer's  scale.  After  we  had  settled  the 
business,  one  of  the  three,  to  convince  the  Bisley 
farmers  that  they  had  acted  in  the  very  spirit  of 
my  directions,  proposed  to  find  a  person  who 
would  immediately  give  them  50/.  a  year  for  their 
bargain  with  me.  This  has  given  them  an  idea 
that  we  act  upon  high  and  holy  motives. 

What  a  noble  trait  is  ibis  of  his  upright  and  dis- 
interested mind  ?  One  might  almost  with  confi- 
dence predict  that  such  an  introduction  into  his 
parishes  was  a  presage  of  great  usefulness.  A 
minister  has  no  right  to  wanton  away  the  support 
of  his  family  ;  but,  having  secured  that,  whatever 
sacrifices  he  may  make  with  such  holy  motives  as 
these,  will  be  abundantly  repaid  ;  probably  in  the 
success  of  his  ministry,  certainly  in  his  masters 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.   CECIL.  55 

Approbation  and  the  peace  of  bis  own  bosom. 
Those  sacrifices  of  what  may  be  strictly  bis  due, 
which  a  narrow  and  worldly  man  may  refuse  to 
make,  though  he  entail  discord  and  feuds  on  his 
parish,  will  be  trifles  to  the  mind  of  a  true  Chris- 
tian minister. 

"I  hardly  think  it  likely  that  a  man  could  have 
been  received  in  a  more  friendly  manner  than  I 
have  been.  About  500  people  attended  at  Chob- 
ham,  and  300  at  Hisley.  I  find  I  can  do  any  thing 
with  them  while  1  am  serious.  A  Baptist  preacher 
had  been  somewhere  in  the  neighbourhood  before 
I  came,  lie  seems  to  have  been  wild  and  eccen- 
tric, and  to  have  planted  a  prejudice  in  conse- 
<|uenceof  this  in  the  people's  minds,  who  appear 
to  have  had  no  other  notion  of  Methodism  than 
that  it  was  eccentricity. 

"  While  I  am  grave  and  serious  they  will  allow 
me  to  say  or  do  any  thing.  For  instance  ;  a  few 
Sundays  since  it  rained  so  prodigiously  hard  when 
1  had  finished  my  sermon  at  Bisley,  that  I  saw  it 
was  impracticable  for  any  body  to  leave  the  church. 
1  then  told  the  people,  that  as  it  was  likely  to  con- 
tinue for  some  time,  we  had  better  employ  our- 
selves as  well  as  we  could,  and  so  I  would  take  up 
the  subject  again.  1  did  so  ;  and  they  listened  to 
me  readily  for  another  half-hour,  though  I  had 
preached  to  them  three  quarters  of  an  hour  before 
1  had  com  hided.  All  this  they  bear,  and  think  it 
nothing  strange  ;  but  one  wild  brother  with  one 
eccentric  sermon  woidd  do  me  more  mischief  than 
i  should  be  able  in  many  months  to  cure." 

A  very  strong  instance  of  personal  attachment 
to  him  occurred  soon  after  he  took  Chobham.  A 
stranger  was  observed  to  attend  church  every  Sun- 
day, and  to  leave  the  village  immediately  afterser- 
vice  was  over.  Every  new  face  there  was  a  phe- 
nomenon, and  of  course  the  appearance  of  this 


5  6 


CHARACTER   OF   SIR.  CECIL. 


man  led  to  inquiry.  He  was  found  to  be  one  of 
his  hearers  at  St.  John's — a  poor,  working-man, 
whom  the  advantages  received  under  his  ministry 
had  so  knit  to  his  pastor,  that  lie  found  himself  i  a- 
paid  for  a  weekly  journey  of  fifty  miles.  Mr.  U. 
remonstrated  with  him  on  the  inexpediency  and 
impropriety  of  thus  spending  his  Sabbath,  when 
the  pure  word  of  God  might  he  heard  so  much 
nearer  home. 

But  we  must  approach  the  closing  scene  of  this 
great  man's  life  and  lahors. 

No  touches  need  to  he  added  to  the  affecting 
picture  which  Mrs.  Cecil  has  drawn  of  his  gradu- 
al descent  to  the  grave.  1  will  only  subjoin  here 
some  remarks  on  his  views  and  feelings  with  re- 
spect to  that  Gospel  of  which  lie  had  been  so  long 
an  eminent  and  successful  minister. 

His  views  of  Christianity  were  modified,  as  has 
been  seen  by  his  constitution  and  the  circumstan- 
ces of  his  life.  His  dispensation  was  to  meet  n 
particular  class  of  liearers.  He  was  fitted  beyond 
most  men,  to  assert  the  reality,  dignity,  and  glory 
of  religion — as  contrasted  with  the  vanity,  mean- 
ness, and  glare  of  the  world.  This  subject  he 
treated  like  a  master.  Men  of  the  world  felt  that 
they  were  in  the  presence  of  their  superior — of  one 
who  unmasked  their  real  misery  to  themselves, 
and  pursued  them  through  all  the  false  refuges  of 
vain  and  carnal  minds. 

While  this  was  the  principal  character  of  Mr. 
Cecil's  ministry  for  years,  at  that  place  for  which 
he  seems  to  have  been  specially  prepared  ;  yet  he 
was  elsewhere,  with  equal  wisdom,  leading  expe- 
rienced Christians  forward  in  their  way  to  heaven  : 
and,  latterly,  the  habit  of  his  own  mind  and  tl.e 
whole  system  of  his  ministry  were  manifestly  rip- 
ening in  those  views  which  are  peculiar  to  the 
Gospel. 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


57 


No  man  had  a  more  just  view  of  his  own  minis- 
try than  he  had;  nor  could  any  one  more  highly 
value  the  excellence  which  he  saw  in  others, 
though  it  was  of  a  different  class  from  his  own. 
"  1  have  been  lately  selecting,"  he  said  to  me, 
"some  of  C — 's  letters  for  publication*  With  the 
utmost  difficulty,  I  have  given  some  little  variety. 
He  hegins  with  Jesus  Christ,  carries  him  through, 
and  closes  with  him.  If  a  broken  leg  orarm  turns 
him  aside,  he  seems  impatient  to  dismiss  it  as  an 
intrusive  suhject,  and  to  get  hack  again  to  his  top- 
ic. I  feel  as  I  read  his  letters — '  Why,  you  said 
this  in  the  last  sentence!  What,  over  and  over 
again  !  What,  nothing  else!  No  variety  of  view  ! 
No  illustration  !'  And  yet,  I  confess,  that,  when 
I  have  walked  out  and  my  mind  has  been  a  good 
deal  exercised  on  his  letters,  I  have  caught  a  sym- 
pathy— 'It  is  one  thing,  without  variety  or  relief; 
but  this  otic  thing  is  a  talisman!' — I  have  raised 
my  head— I  have  trod  firmly — my  heart  has  ex- 
panded—I have  felt  wings  !  Men  must  not  he  view- 
ed indiscriminately.  To  a  certain  degree  I  produce 
effect  in  my  way,  and  with  my  views.  The  utter 
ruin  and  bankruptcy  of  man  is  so  wrought  intomv 
experience,  that  1  handle  this  suhject  natural^. 
Other  men  may  use  God's  more  direct  means  as 
naturally  as  I  can  use  his  more  indirect  and  col- 
lateral ones.  Every  man,  however,  must  rather 
follow  than  lead  his  experience;  though,  to  a  cer- 
tain degree,  if  he  finds  his  habits  diverting  him 
from  Jesus  Christ  as  the  grand,  prominent,  only 
feature,  he  must  force  himself  to  choose  such  top- 
ics as  shall  lead  his  mind  to  him.  I  am  obliged  to 
suhject  myself  to  this  discipline.  1  frequently 
choose  subjects  and  enter  into  my  plan,  before  I 
discover  that  the  Saviour  occupies  a  part  too  sub- 
ordinate :  1  throw  them  away,  and  take  up  others 
which  point  more  directly  and  naturally  to  him." 


SB 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


In  his  last  illness,  lie  spoke,  with  great  feel- 
ing on  the  same  subject:  "That  Christianity 
may  he  very  sincere,  which  is  not  sublime. 
Let  a  man  read  Mattlaurin's  sermon  on  the  Cross 
of  Christ,  and  enter  into  the  subject  with 
taste  and  relish,  what  beggary  is  the  world  to 
him  !  The  subject  is  so  high  and  so  glorious,  that 
a  man  must  go  out  of  himself,  as  it  were,  to  appre- 
hend it.  The  apostle  had  such  a  view  when  he 
said  I  count  nil  things  but  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the 
knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord.  I  remember 
the  time,  even  after  I  became  really  serious  in  re- 
ligion, when  I  could  not  understand  what  St.  Paul 
meant — not  by  setting  forth  the  glory  of  Christ,  but 
by  talking  of  it  in  such  hyperbolical  terms,  and  al- 
ways dwelling  on  the  subject:  whatever  topic  he 
began  on,  I  saw  that  he  could  not  but  glide  into 
\  the  same  subject.  But  I  now  understand  why  he 
did  so,  and  wonder  no  tnorp  ;  for  there  is  no  other 
subject,  comparatively,  worthy  ottr  thoughts,  and 
therefore  it  is  that  advanced  Christians  dwell  on 
little  else.  I  am  fully  persuaded,  that  the  whole 
world  becomes  vain  and  empty  to  a  man,  in  pro- 
portion as  he  enters  into  living  views  of  Jesus 
Christ." 

His  fke lings  on  religion,  as  they  respected  his 
submission  to  the  divine  will,  were  admirably  ex- 
pressed by  himself: — "  We  are  servants,  and  we 
must  not  choose  our  station.  I  am  now  called  to 
go  down  very  low,  hut  I  must  not  resist.  God  is 
saying  to  me,  'You  have  not  been  doing  my  work 
in  my  way:  you  have  been  too  hasty.  Now  sit 
down,  and  be  content  to  be  a  quiet  idler:  and 
wait  till  I  give  you  leave  again  to  go  on  in  your 
labors.'  " 

In  respect  to  his  personal  comfort,  he  had 
said — "  I  have  attained  satisfaction  as  to  my  state, 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


50 


by  a  consciousness  of  change  in  my  own  breast, 
mixed  with  a  consciousness  of  integrity. 
Two  evidences  are  satisfactory  to  me: — 

1.  A  consciousness  of  approving  God's  plan  of 
government  in  the  Gospel. 

2.  A  consciousness,  that,  in  trouble,  I  run  to 
God  as  a  child." 

These  evidences  Mr.  C.  illustrated  even  in  his 
diseased  moments  before  his  death.  On  that  af- 
flicting dispensation  I  shall  make  no  remarks  of 
my  own,  ns  I  think  nothing  can  be  added  to  what 
my  friend,  his  successor,  has  so  well  said  in  the 
second  of  his  funeral  sermons,  and  which  is  here 
subjoined. 

"During  the  whole  period  of  his  last  illness,  a 
space  of  nearly  three  years,  the  state  of  Ins  mind 
fluctuated  with  his  malady.  Every  one,  who  has 
had  opportunities  of  observing  the  operation  of 
palsy,  knows,  that,  without  destroying,  or,  propeily 
speaking,  perverting,  the  reasoning  powers,  it  agi- 
tates and  enervates  them.  Every  object  is  present- 
ed through  a  discolored  medium.  False  premises 
are  assumed  ;  and  the  mind  is  sometimes  more  than 
usually  expert  in  drawing  inferences  accordingly. 
In  a  word,  the  whole  system  is  deranged  and  shat- 
tered. An  excessive  care  anil  irritation  and  des- 
pondency arc  produced  under  the  impression  of 
which  the  sufferer  acts  every  moment,  without  be- 
ing at  all  aware  of  the  cause.  His  morbid  anxiety 
is,  besides,  fixed  on  some  inconsiderable  or  ideal 
matter,  which  he  magnifies  and  distorts;  while  he 
remains  incapable  of  attending  to  concerns  of  su- 
perior moment,  and  any  attempts  to  rectify  his 
misapprehensions,  quicken  the  irritation,  and  in- 
crease the  effects  of  the  disorder. 

"Under  this  peculiar  visitation  it  pleased  God 
that  our  late  venerable  father  should  labor.  The 
energy,  and  decision,  and  grandeur  of  his  natural 


00 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL- 


powers,  therefore,  gradually  gave  way,  and  a  mor- 
bid feebleness  succeeded.  Yet  even  in  this  afflict- 
ing state,  with  his  body  on  one  side  almost  lifeless, 
his  organs  of  speech  impaired,  and  his  judgment 
weakened,  the  spiritual  disposition  of  his  heart 
displayed  themselves  in  a  remarkable  manner.  He 
appeared  great  in  the  ruins  of  nature;  and  his  em- 
inently religious  character  manifested  itself,  to  the 
honor  of  divine  grace,  in  a  manner  which  surpris- 
ed all  who  were  acquainted  with  the  ordinary  ef- 
fects of  paralytic  complaints.  The  actings  of  hope 
were,  of  course,  impeded  ;  but  the  habit  of  grace 
which  had  been  forming  in  his  mind  for  thirty  or 
forty  years  shone  through  the  cloud.  At  such  a 
period  there  was  no  room  for  fresh  acquisitions. 
The  real  character  of  the  man  could  only  appear, 
when  disease  allowed  it  to  appear  at  all,  according 
to  the  grand  leading  habits  of  his  life.  If  his  hab- 
its had  been  ambitious,  or  sensual,  or  covetous,  or 
worldly,  these  tendencies,  if  any,  would  have  dis- 
played themselves:  hut  as  his  soul  had  been  long 
established  in  grace,  and  spiritual  religion  had  been 
incorporated  with  all  his  trains  of  sentiment  and 
affection,  and  had  become  like  a  second  nature, 
the  holy  dispositions  of  his  heart  acted  with  re- 
markable constancy  uuder'all  the  variations  of  Jus 
illness:  so  that  one  of  his  oldest  friends  observed 
to  me,  that  if  he  had  to  choose  the  portion  of  his 
life,  since  he  first  knew  hi  CD,  in  which  the  eviden- 
ces of  a  state  of  salvation  were  most  decisive,  he 
should,  without  a  moment's  hesitation,  select  the 
period  of  his  last  distressing  malady. 

"Throughout  his  illness,  his  whole  mind,  instead 
of  being  fixed  on  some  mean  and  insignificant 
concern,  was  riveted  on  spiritual  objects.  Every 
other  topic  was  so  uninteresting  to  him,  and  even 
burdensome,  that  he  could  with  reluctance  allow 
it  to  be  introduced.  The  value  of  his  soul,  the  emp- 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


m 


tiness  of  the  world,  the  nearness  and  solemnity  of 
death,  were  ever  on  his  lips.  He  spent  his  whole 
time  in  reading  the  Scripture,  and  one  or  two  old 
divines,  particularly  Archbishop  Leighton.  All  he 
said  and  did  was  as  a  man  on  the  brink  of  an  eter- 
nal state. 

"His  humility,  also,  evidently  ripened  as  he  ap- 
proached his  end.  lie  was  willing  to  receive  ad- 
vice from  every  quarter.  He  listened  with  anxie- 
ty to  any  hint  that  was  offered  him.  His  view  of 
his  own  misery  and  helplessness  as  a  sinner,  and 
of  the  necessity  of  being  entirely  indebted  to  divine 
grace,  and  being  saved  as  the  greatest  monument 
of  its  efficacy,  was  continually  on  the  increase. 

"His  simplicity  and  fervor  in  speaking  of  the 
Saviour,  were  also  very  remarkable.  As  he  drew 
nearer  to  death,  his  one  topic  was — Jesus  Christ. 
All  his  anxiety  and  cnre  were  centred  in  this 
grand  point.  His  apprehensions  of  the  work  and 
glory  of  Christ,  of  the  extent  and  suitableness  of 
his  salvation,  and  of  the  unspeakable  importance 
of  being  spiritually  united  to  him,  were  more  dis- 
tinct and  simple,  if  possible,  than  at  any  period 
of  his  life.  He  spake  of  him  to  his  family,  with 
the  feeling,  anil  interest,  and  seriousness  of  the 
aged  and  dying  believer. 

"His  faith,  also,  never  failed.  I  have  heard  him 
with  faltering  and  feeble  lips,  speak  of  the  great 
foundations  of  Christianity  with  the  fullest  confi- 
dence. He  said,  he  never  saw  so  clearly  the  truth 
of  the  doctrines  which  he  had  been  preaching,  as 
since  his  illness.  His  view  of  the  certainty  and 
excellency  of  God's  promises  in  Christ  was  un- 
shaken. 

"  The  interest,  likewise,  which  he  took  in  the 
success  of  the  Gospel,  was  prominent,  when  his 
disease  at  all  remitted.  His  own  people  lay  near 
his  heart;  and,  when  a  providence  had  occurred 


G2 


CHARACTER   OF    SIR.  CECIL. 


which  he  hoped  would  promote  their  benefit,  he 
expressed  himself  with  old  Simeon,  'Lord,  now 
lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace.' 

"The  principal  effect  of  his  distemper  was  in 
throwing  a  cloud  over  his  comfort;  yet,  in  produc- 
ing this,  the  spiritual  tendency  of  his  mind  appear- 
ed. His  diseased  depression  operated  indeed,  but 
it  was  in  leading  him  to  set  a  high  standard  of  ho- 
liness to  bring  together  elevated  marks  of  regenera- 
tion, and  to  require  decisive  evidences  of  a  spirit  of 
faith  and  adoption.  The  acuteness  of  his  judg- 
ment then  argued  so  strongly  from  these  false  pre- 
mises, that  he  necessarily  excluded  himself  almost 
entirely  from  the  consolation  of  hope.  If  I  may 
be  allowed  a  theological  term — the  objective  acts 
of  faith;  those  that  related  to  the  grand  objects 
proposed  in  the  scriptures  on  the  testimony  of  God, 
such  as  the  work  of  redemption,  the  person  of 
Christ,  and  the  virtue  of  his  blood,  remained  the 
same  ;  nay,  were  ripened  and  strengthened  as  his 
dissolution  approached:  but  the  subjective  acts 
of  faith,  those  which  respected  bis  own  interest 
in  these  blessings,  and  which  gave  life  to  the  exer- 
cises of  hope,  rose  and  sunk  with  his  disease.  He 
was  precisely  like  a  man  oppressed  by  a  heavy 
weight:  as  the  load  was  lightened,  he  began  to 
move  and  exert  himself  in  his  natural  manner : 
when  the  burden  was  increased,  he  sunk  down 
again  under  the  oppression. 

"About  a  year  before  his  death,  when  his  pow- 
ers of  mind  had  for  a  long  time  been  debilitated, 
but  still  retained  some  remnants  of  their  lormer 
vigor,  his  religious  feelings  were  at  times  truly  de- 
sirable. His  intellectual  powers  were  indeed  too 
far  weakened  for  joy  ;  but  there  w  as  a  resignation, 
a  tranquillity,  a  ripeness  of  grace,  a  calm  and  holy 
repose  on  the  bosom  of  the  Saviour,  that  quite 
alarmed,  if  I  may  so  speak,  his  anxious  family, 
under  the  impression  that  there  appeared  nothing 


CHARACTER   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


63 


left  for  grace  to  tlo,  and  that  he  would  soon  be  re- 
moved from  them,  as  a  shock  of  com  cometh  in  its 
season-  Even  when  his  disease  had  made  still 
further  progress,  as  often  as  the  slightest  allevia- 
tion was  afforded  him,  his  judgment  became  more 
distinct,  his  morbid  depression  lessened,  and  he 
was  moderately  composed.  It  was  only  a  lew 
weeks  before  his  dissolution  that  such  an  interval 
was  vouchsafed  to  him.  He  then  spake  with  great 
feeling  from  the  scriptures,  in  family  worship,  for 
about  half  an  hour;  and  dwelt  on  the  love,  and 
grace,  and  power  of  Christ  with  particular  com- 
posure of  mind.  I  had  the  happiness  of  visiting 
him  at  this  season.  He  was  so  much  relieved 
from  his  disease,  as  to  enter  with  me  on  general 
topics  relating  to  religion,  and  to  give  me  some  ex- 
cellent directions  as  to  my  conduct  as  a  minister. 
In  reply  to  various  questions  which  I  put  to  him, 
he  spake  to  trie  to  the  following  purport:  'I  know 
myself  to  be  a  wretched,  worthless,  sinner,'  (the 
seriousness  and  feeling  with  which  he  spake  I 
shall  never  forget,)  'having  nothing  in  myself  but 
poverty  and  sin.  I  know  Jesus  Christ  to  be  a  glo- 
rious and  almighty  Saviour.  I  see  the  lull  efficacy 
of  his  atonement  and  grace  ;  and  I  cast  myself 
entirely  on  him,  and  wait  at  his  footstool.  I  am 
aware  that  my  diseased  and  broken  mind  makes 
me  incapable  of  receiving  consolation  ;  but  I  sub- 
mit myself  wholly  to  the  merciful  and  wise  dispen- 
sations of  God.' 

"One  or  two  other  interesting  testimonies  of 
the  spiritual  and  devoted  state  of  his  heart  may  be 
here  mentioned.  A  short  time  before  his  ilimnBB, 
he  requested  one  of  his  family  to  write  down  for 
him  in  a  book  the  following  sentence;  '"None 
but  Christ,  none  but  Christ,"  said  Lambert  dying 
at  a  stake:  the  same,  in  dying  circumstances,  with 
iiis   whole   heart,   saith  Richard    Cecil.'  The 


64 


CHARACTER   Or   MR.  CECIL. 


name  was  signed  by  himself,  with  his  left  hand  in 
a  manner  hardly  legible  through  infirmity." 

Such  was  Mr.  Cecil.  I  sincerely  regret  that 
some  masterly  observer  did  not  both  enjoy  and 
improve  opportunities  of  delineating  a  more  per- 
fect picture  of  his  great  mind.  I  have,  however, 
faithfully  detailed  the  impressions  which  his  char- 
acter made  on  me,  during  a  long  course  of  affec- 
tionate admiration  of  him  :  nor  have  I  shrunk 
from  intermingling  such  remarks,  as  every  faith- 
lul  observer  must  find  occasion  to  make  while  he 
is  watching  the  unfoldings  of  the  best  and  greatest 
of  men. 

Christian  Parents,  and  particularly  chris- 
tian mothers,  may  gather  from  the  history  and 
character  of  our  departed  friend  every  possible 
encouragement  to  the  unwearied  care  of  their 
children.  While  St.  Austin,  Bishop  Hall,  Richard 
Hooker,  John  Newton,  Richard  Cecil,  and  many- 
other  great  and  eminent  servants  of  Christ,  have 
left  on  record  their  grateful  acknowledgments  to 
their  pious  mothers,  as  the  instruments,  under  the 
grace  and  blessing  of  God,  of  winning  them  to 
himself,  let  no  woman  of  faith  and  prayer  despair 
respecting  even  her  most  untoward  child. 

Mr.  Cecil's  mere  admirers  should  feel  what  a 
weight  of  responsibility  his  ministry  and  his  char- 
acter have  laid  them  under.  They  gave  him  the 
ear,  but  he  labored  for  the  heart.  They  were 
pleased  with  the  man,  but  he  prayed  that  they 
might  become  displeased  with  themselves.  They 
would  aid  him  in  his  schemes,  but  he  was  anx- 
ious that  they  should  serve  his  Master.  How 
soon  must  they  meet  him  at  that  judgment-seat 
before  which  all  must  ap|>ear,  to  receive  ac- 
cording to  what  they  have  done  in  the  body 
whether  good  or  evil  t 


CHARACTER    Or   MR.  CECIL. 


Go 


His  sincere  friends  are  called  to  imitate  his 
example — to  follow  him  as  lie  followed  Christ — 
to  live  above  this  vain  world — to  sacrifice  every 
thing  to  the  honor  of  Christ  and  the  interests  of 
eternity — to  bear  up  under  pain  and  weariness 
and  anxiety,  leaning  on  Almighty  strength  ;  till 
they  join  him  in  that  world  where  weakness 
shall  be  felt  no  more  t 

JOSIAH  PRATT- 


REMAINS 

OF  THE 

REV.  RICHARD  CECIL,  M.  A. 


REMARKS  MADE  BY  MR.  CECIL  CHIEFLY 
IN  CONVERSATION  WITH  THE  ED- 
ITOR, OR  IN  DISCUSSIONS  WHEN  HE 
WAS  PRESENT. 

"  Multa  ab  eo  prudcntcr  disputata,  multa  etiam  brctiter 
et  commode  dicta  memoria-  mandabam,  fieriqitc  sttcdc- 
bam  ejus  prudcntia  doctior. — Cic.  tie  Ainicit.  I. 

On  the  Christian  Life  and  Conflict. 

The  direct  cause  of  a  Christian's  spiritual  life, 
is  union  with  Christ.  All  attention  to  the  mere 
circumstantials  of  religion,  has  u  tendency  to  draw 
the  soul  away  from  this  union.  Few  men,  except 
ministers,  are  called,  by  the  nature  of  their  station, 
to  enter  much  into  these  circumstantials : — such, 
for  instance,  as  the  evidences  of  the  truth  of  re- 
ligion. Ministers  leel  this  deadening  effect  of  any 
considerable  or  continued  attention  to  externals: 
much  more  must  private  Christians.  The  head 
may  be  strengthened,  till  the  heart  is  starved. 
Some  private  Christians,  however,  may  be  called 
on,  by  the  nature  of  those  circles  in  which  they 
move,  to  be  qualified  to  meet  and  refute  the  ob- 
jections which  may  be  urged  against  religion. 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


G7 


Sucli  men  as  well  as  ministers,  while  they  are  fur- 
nishing themselves  for  this  purpose,  must  acquiesce 
in  the  work  which  God  appoints  for  them,  with 
prayer  and  watchfulness.  If  they  cannot  always 
live  and  abide  close  to  the  ark,  and  the  pot  of 
manna,  and  the  cherubim,  and  the  mercy  seat : 
yet  they  are  drawing  the  water  and  gathering  the 
wood  necessary  for  the  service  of  the  camp.  But 
let  their  hearts  still  turn  toward  the  place  where 
the  Glory  resideth. 

The  Christian's  fellowship  with  God  is  rather 
a  habit,  than  a  rapture.  He  is  a  pilgrim,  who  has 
the  habit  of  looking  forward  to  the  light  before 
him  :  he  has  the  habit  of  not  looking  back  ;  he 
has  the  habit  of  walking  steadily  in  the  way, 
whatever  be  the  weather,  and  whaiever  the  road. 
These  are  his  habits:  and  the  Lord  of  the  Way  is 
his  Guide,  Protector,  Friend,  and  Felicity. 

As  the  Christian's  exigencies  arise,  he  has  a 
spiritual  habit  of  turning  to  God,  and  say  ing,  with 
the  Church,  "  Tell  me,  O  thou  whom  my  soul  lovelh, 
where  thou  feedest,  ivhere  thou  makest  thy  flocks  to 
rest  at  noon.  I  have  tried  to  find  rest  elsewhere. 
I  have  (led  to  shelters,  which  held  out  great  prom- 
ise of  repose;  but  I  have  now  long  since  learned 
to  turn  unto  thee  :  "  TM  me,  O  thou  ivhoia  my  soul 
loveth,  where  thou  feedest,  where  thou  makest  thy  flocks 
to  rest  at  noon." 

The  Christian  will  look  hack,  throughout  eter- 
nity, with  interest  and  delight,  on  the  steps  and 
means  of  his  conversion.  "  My  father  told  me 
this!  My  mother  told  that!  Such  an  event  was 
sanctified  to  me!  In  such  a  place,  God  visited  my 
soul!"  These  recollections  will  never  grow  dull 
and  wearisome. 


08 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


A  volume  misht  be  written  on  the  various 
methods  which  God  has  taken,  in  providence,  to 
lead  men  first  to  think  of  him. 

The  history  of  a  man's  own  life  is,  to  himself, 
the  most  interesting  history  in  she  world,  next  to 
that  of  the  Scriptures.  Every  man  is  an  original 
and  solitary  character.  None  can  either  under- 
stand or  feel  the  book  of  his  own  life  like  himself. 
The  lives  of  other  men  are  to  him  dry  ar.d  vapid, 
when  set  beside  his  own.  He  enters  very  little 
into  the  spirit  of  the  Old  Testament,  who  does  not 
see  God  culling  on  him  to  turn  over  the  pages  of 
this  history  when  he  says  to  the  Jew,  Thou  shalt 
remember  all  the  way  which  the  Lord  thy  God  led 
thee  these  forty  years.  He  sees  God  teaching  the 
Jew  to  look  at  the  records  of  his  deliverance  from 
the  Red  Sea,  of  the  manna  showered  down  on 
him  from  heaven,  and  of  the  Amalekites  pat  to 
flight  before  him.  There  are  such  grand  events 
in  the  life  and  experience  of  every  Christian,  it 
may  be  well  for  him  to  review  them  often.  1 
have,  in  some  cases,  vowed  before  God  to  appro- 
priate yearly  remembrances  of  some  of  the  signal 
turns  of  my  life.  Having  made  the  vow,  I  hold  it 
as  obligatory:  but  I  would  advise  others  to  greater 
circumspection  ;  as  they  may  bring  a  galling  yoke 
on  themselves,  which  God  designed  not  to  put  on 
them. 

True  grace  is  a  growing  principle.  The  Chris- 
tian grows  in  discernment:  a  child  may  play 
with  a  serpent ;  but  the  man  gets  as  far  from  it  aa 
he  can  :  a  child  may  taste  poison  ;  but  the  man 
will  not  suffer  a  speck  of  poison  near  him.  He 
grows  in  humility:  the  blade  shoots  up  boldly, 
and  the  young  ear  keeps  erect  with  confidence : 
but  the  full  corn  in  the  ear  inclines  itself  toward 


REMAINS  OF   MR.  CECIL. 


CO 


the  earth  nothecause  it  is  feebler,  but  because  it  is 
matured.  He  grows  in  strength  :  the  new  wine 
ferments  and  frets;  but  the  old  wine  acquires  a 
body  and  a  firmness. 

Tenderness  of  conscience  is  always  to  be  dis- 
tinguished from  scrupulousness.  The  conscience 
cannot  be  kept  too  sensible  and  tender  :  but  scru- 
pulousness arises  from  bodily  or  mental  infirmity, 
and  discovers  itself  in  a  multitude  of  ridiculous, 
and  Superstitious,  and  painful  feelings. 

The  head  is  dull,  in  discerning  the  value  of 
God's  expedients;  and  the  Dealt  cold,  sluggish, 
and  reluctant, in  submitting  to  tliem  :  but  the  head 
is  lively,  in  the  invention  of  its  own  expedients; 
and  the  heart  eager  and  sanguine,  in  pursuit  of 
them.  No  wonder,  then,  that  God  subjects  both 
the  head  and  the  heart  to  a  course  of  continual 
correction. 

Every  man  will  have  his  own  criterion  in  form- 
ing his  judgment  of  others.  I  depend  very  much 
on  the  effect  of  affliction.  I  consider  how  a  man 
comes  out  of  the  furnace:  gold  will  lie  for  a 
month  in  1 1 10  furnace  without  losing  a  grain. 
And,  while  under  trial,  a  child  has  a  habit  of 
turning  to  his  father:  he  is  not  like  a  penitent, 
who  has  been  whipped  into  this  state  :  it  is  natu- 
ral to  him.  It  is  dark,  and  the  child  has  no  where 
to  run,  but  to  his  father. 

Defilement  is  inseparable  from  the  world.  A 
man  can  no  where  rest  his  foot  on  it  without  sink- 
ing. A  strong  principle  of  assimilation  combines 
the  world  and  the  heart  together.'  There  are,  es- 
pecially, certain  occasions,  when  the  current 
hurries  a  man  away,  and  he  has  lost  the  religious 


70 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


government  of  himself.  When  the  pilot  finds,  on 
making  the  port  of  Messina,  that  the  ship  will  not 
obey  the  helm,  he  knows  that  she  is  got  within  the 
influence  of  that  attraction,  which  will  bury  her 
in  the  whirlpool.  We  are  to  avoid  the  danger, 
rather  than  to  oppose  it.  This  is  a  great  doctrine 
of  Scripture.  An  active  force  against  the  world 
is  not  so  much  inculcated,  as  a  retreating,  declin- 
ing spirit.    Keep  thyself  unspotted  from  the  tvorld. 

There  are  seasons  when  a  Christian's  distin- 
guishing character  is  hidden  from  man.  A  Chris- 
tian merchant  on  'Change  is  not  called  to  show 
any  difference  in  his  mere  exterior  carriage  from 
another  merchant.  He  gives  a  reasonable  answer 
if  he  is  asked  a  question.  He  does  not  fanatically 
intrude  religion  into  every  sentence  he  utters. 
He  does  not  suppose  his  religion  to  be  inconsistent 
with  the  common  interchange  of  civilities.  He  is 
affable  and  courteous.  He  can  ask  the  news  of 
the  day,  and  take  up  any  public  topic  of  conversa- 
tion. Hut  is  he,  therefore,  not  different  from  other 
men  ?  He  is  like  another  merchant  in  the  mere 
exterior  circumstance,  which  is  least  in  God's  re- 
gard ; — but,  in  his  taste! — his  views! — bis  sci- 
ence ! — his  hopes  ! — his  happiness  !  he  is  as  differ- 
ent from  those  around  him  as  light  is  from  dark- 
ness. He  waits  for  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  who  never  passes  perhaps  through  the 
thoughts  of  those  he  talks  with,  hut  to  be  neg- 
lected and  despised ! 

The  Christian  is  called  to  he  like  Abraham,  in 
conduct;  like  Paul,  in  labors;  and  like  John,  in 
spirit.  Though,  as  a  man  of  faith,  he  goes  forth 
not  knowing  whither,  and  his  principle  is  hidden 
from  the  world,  yet  he  will  oblige  the  world  to 
acknowledge:  "His  views,  it  is  true,  we  do  not 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


71 


understand.  His  principles  and  general  conduct  are 
a  mystery  to  us.  But  a  more  upright,  noble,  gener- 
ous," disinterested,  peaceable,  and  benevolent  man, 
we  know  not  where  to  find."  The  world  may  even 
count  him  a  madman  ;  and  false  brethren  may 
vilify  his  character,  and  calumniate  his  motives : 
yet  he  will  bear  down  evil,  by  repaying  good  ; 
and  will  silence  his  enemies,  by  the  abundance  of 
his  labors.  He  may  be  shut  out  from  the  world — 
cast  into  prison — banished  into  obscurity — no  eye 
to  observe  him,  no  hand  to  help  him — but  it  is 
enough  for  him,  if  his  Saviour  will  speak  to  him 
and  smile  on  him. 

Christians  are  too  little  aware  what  their  re- 
ligion requires  from  them,  with  regard  to  their 
wishes.  When  we  wish  things  to  be  otherwise 
than  they  are,  we  lose  sight  of  the  great  practical 
parts  of  the  life  of  godliness.  We  wish,  and  wish 
— when,  if  we  have  done  all  that  lies  on  us,  we 
should  fall  quietly  into  the  hands  of  God.  Such 
wishing  cuts  the  very  sinews  of  our  privileges  and 
consolations.  You  are  leaving  me  for  a  time; 
and  you  say  you  wish  you  could  leave  me  better, 
or  leave  me  with  some  assistance:  but,  if  it  is 
right  for  you  to  go,  it  is  right  for  me  to  meet  what 
lies  on  me,  without  a  wish  that  1  had  less  to 
meet,  or  were  better  able  to  meet  it. 

I  could  write  down  twenty  cases,  wherein  I 
wished  God  had  done  otherwise  than  he  did  ;  but 
which  I  now  see,  had  I  had  my  own  will,  would  have 
led  to  extensive  mischief.  The  life  of  a  Christian 
is  a  life  of  paradoxes.  He  must  lay  hold  on  God  : 
he  must  follow  hard  after  him:  he  must  determine 
not  to  let  him  go.  And  yet  he  must  learn  to  let 
God  alone.  Quietness  before  God  is  one  of  the 
most  difficult  of  all  Christian  graces — to  sit  where 


72 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


lie  places  us;  to  be  what  he  would  have  us  to  be, 
and  this  as  long  as  he  pleases.  We  are  like  a 
player  at  bowls;  if  he  has  given  his  bowl  too 
little  bias,  he  cries,  "  Flee  :"  it'  he  has  given  it  too 
much,  he  cries,  "Rub,"  you  see  him  lilting  his 
leg,  and  bending  his  body,  in  conformity  to  the 
motion  he  would  impart  to  the  bowl.  Thus  I 
have  felt  with  regard  to  my  dispensations :  I 
would  urge  them  or  restrain  them:  1  would  as- 
similate them  to  the  habit  of  my  mind.  But  I 
have  smarted  for  this  under  severe  visitations.  It 
may  seem  a  harsh,  but  it  is  a  wise  and  gracious 
dispensation,  toward  a  man,  when,  the  instant  he 
stretches  out  his  hand  to  order  his  affairs,  God 
forces  him  to  withdraw  it.  Concerning  what  is 
morally  good  or  evil,  we  are  sufficiently  informed 
for  our  direction;  but  concerning  what  is  natu- 
rally good  or  evil,  we  are  ignorance  itself.  Rest- 
lessness and  self-will  are  opposed  to  our  duty  in 
these  cases. 

Schooling  the  heart  is  the  grand  means  of 
personal  religion.  To  bring  motives  under  faith- 
ful examination,  is  a  high  state  of  religious  char- 
acter :  with  regard  to  the  depravity  of  the  heart 
we  live  daily  in  the  disbelief  of  our  own  creed. 
We  indulge  thoughts  and  feelings,  which  are 
founded  upon  the  presumption  that  all  around  us 
are  imperfect  and  corrupted,  but  that  we  are  ex- 
empted. The  self-will  and  ambition  and  passion 
of  public  characters  in  the  religious  world,  all 
arise  from  this  sort  of  practical  infidelity.  And 
though  its  effects  are  so  manifest  in  these  men, 
because  they  are  leaders  of  parties,  and  are  set 
upon  a  pinnacle  so  that  all  who  are  without  the 
influence  of  their  vortex  can  see  them  :  yet  every 
man's  own  breast  has  an  infallible,  dogmatizing, 
excommunicating,  and  anathematizing  spirit  work- 
ing within. 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL- 


73 


Acting  from  the  occasion,  without  recollection 
and  inquiry,  is  the  death  of  personal  religion.  It 
will  not  suffice  merely  to  retire  to  the  study  or  the 
closet.  The  mind  is  sometimes,  in  private,  most 
ardently  pursuing  its  particular  object ;  and,  as  it 
then  acts  from  the  occasion,  nothing  is  further 
from  it  tint  reeollectedness.  I  have  for  weeks 
together,  in  pursuit  of  some  scheme,  acted  so  en- 
tirely from  the  occasion,  that,  when  I  have  at 
length  called  myself  to  account,  I  have  seemed 
like  one  awaked  from  a  dream.  "Am  I  the  man 
who  could  think  and  speak  so  and  so  ?  Am  I  the 
man  who  could  feci  such  a  disposition, or  discover 
such  conduct?"  The  fascination  and  enchant- 
ment of  the  occasion  is  vanished  ;  and  I  stand  like 
David  in  similar  circumstances  before  Nathan. 
Such  cases  in  experience  are,  in  truth,  a  moral 
intoxication  ;  and  the  man  is  only  then  sober, 
when  he  begins  to  school  his  heart. 

The  servant  of  God  has  not  only  natural  sensi- 
bilities, by  which  he  feels,  in  common  with  other 
men,  the  sorrows  of  life  ;  but  he  has  moral  sensi- 
bilities, which  are  peculiar  to  his  character. 
When  David  was  driven  from  his  kingdom,  be 
not  only  fi'lt  depressed  as  an  exile  and  wan- 
derer; but  he  would  recollect  his  own  sin  as  pun- 
ished in  the  affliction,  Eli  had  not  only  to  suffer 
the  pangs  of  a  father  in  the  loss  of  his  sons  ;  but 
he  would  recal,  with  bitterness  of  spirit,  his  own 
mismanagement,  in  bringing  up  these  sons.  St, 
Paul  had  not  only  to  endure  the  thorn  in  the  flesh  ; 
but  he  would  feel  that  he  carried  about  him  pro- 
pensities to  self  exaltation,  which  rendered  that 
thorn  necessary  and  salutary. 

Dangerous  predicaments  are  the  brinks  of 
temptations.     A  niau  often  gives  evidence  to 


74 


REMAINS  OP   MR.  CECIL. 


others  that  he  is  giddy,  though  he  is  not  aware 
of  it  perhaps  himself.  Whoever  has  heen  in 
danger  himself  will  guess  very  shrewdly  concern- 
ing the  dangerous  state  of  such  a  man. 

A  haughty  spirit  is  a  symptom  of  extreme  dan- 
ger— 4  haughty  spirit  goeth  before  a  fall. 

Presumptuous  carelessness  indicates  danger. 

"Who  tears?"  This  is  to  he  feared,  that  you  feel 
no  cause  of  fear.  Such  was  Peter's  state  :  Though 
all  men  forsake  thee,  yet  irtU  not  I. 

Venturing  on  the  borders  of  danger  is  much  akin 
to  this.  A  man  goes  on  pretty  well  till  he  ventures 
within  the  atmosphere  of  danger  :  hut  the  atmos- 
phere of  danger  infatuates  him.  The  ship  is  got 
within  the  influence  of  the  vortex,  and  will  not 
ohey  the  helm.  David  was  sitting  in  this  atmos- 
phere on  the  house-top,  and  was  ensnared  and  fell. 

An  accession  of  trcedth  is  a  dangerous  predica- 
ment for  a  man.  At  first  he  is  stunned,  if  the  ac- 
cession be  sudden  :  he  is  very  humble  and  very 
grateful.  Then  he  begins  to  speak  a  little  louder, 
people  think  him  more  sensible,  and  soon  he 
thinks  himself  so. 

A  man  is  in  imminent  danger  when  in  suspected 
circumsta7ices,  he  is  disposed  to  equivocate,  as  Abra- 
ham did  with  Pharaoh,  and  Isaac  with  Abimelech. 

Stupidity  of  conscience  under  chastisement — 
an  advancement  to  power,  when  a  man  begins  to 
relish  sur.h  power — popularity — self-indulgence — 
a  disposition  to  gad  about,  like  Dinah — all  these 
are  symptoms  ol  spiritual  danger. 

A  chance  of  circumstances  in  our  condition 
oflifeisa  critical  period.  No  man  who  has  not 
passed  through  such  a  change,  can  form  any  ade- 
quate notion  of  its  effects  upon  the  mind.  When 
money  comes  into  the  pocket  of  a  poor  man  in 
small  sums,  it  goes  out  as  it  came  in,  and  more 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


75 


follows  it  in  tlie  same  way  ;  and  with  a  certain 
freedom  and  indifference,  it  is  applied  to  its  proper 
uses:  but  when  he  hegins  to  receive  round  sums, 
that  may  yield  him  an  interest,  and  when  this  in- 
terest comes  to  he  added  to  his  principal,  and  the 
sweets  of  augmentation  to  creep  over  him,  it  is 
quite  a  new  world  to  him.  In  a  rise  of  circum- 
stances, too,  the  man  becomes,  in  his  own  opinion, 
a  wiser  man,  a  greater  man  ;  and  pride  of  station 
crosses  him  in  his  way.  Nor  is  the  contrary 
change  less  dangerous.  Poverty  has  its  trials. 
That  is  a  fine  trait  in  the  Pilgrim's  Progress,  that 
Christian  stumbled  in  going  down  the  Hill  into 
the  Valley  of  Humiliation. 

A  sound  head,  a  simple  heart,  anil  a  spirit  de- 
pendent on  Christ,  will  suffice  to  conduct  us  in 
every  variety  of  circumstances. 

I  cannot  look  through  my  past  life  without 
trembling.  A  variation  in  my  circumstances  has 
been  attended  with  dangers  and  difficulties,  little 
of  which  I  saw  at  the  time  compared  with  what 
reflection  has  since  shewn  me,  but  which  in  the 
review  of  them  make  me  shudder,  and  ought  to 
fill  me  with  gratitude.  He,  who  views  this  sub- 
ject aright,  will  put  up  particular  prayer  against 
sudden  attacks. 

God  will  have  the  Christian  thoroughly  hum- 
bled and  dependent.  Strong  minds  think  perhaps 
sometimes,  that  they  can  effect  great  things  in  ex- 
perience by  keeping  themselves  girt  up,  by  the 
recurrence  of  habit,  by  vigorous  exertion.  This 
is  their  unquestionable  duty.  But  God  often 
strips  them,  lest  they  should  grow  confident.  He 
lays  them  bare — He  makes  them  feel  poor,  dark, 
impotent.  He  seems  to  say,  "  Strive  with  all  your 
vigor,  but  yet  I  am  he  that  worketh  all  in  all." 


76 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


There  is  no  calling  or  profession,  however  en- 
snaring in  many  respects  to  a  Christian  mind, 
provided  it  be  not  in  itself  simply  unlawful, 
wherein  God  has  not  [frequently  raised  up  faith- 
ful witnesses,  who  have  stood  forth  for  examples 
to  others,  in  like  situations,  of  the  practicability  of 
uniting  great  eminence  in  the  Christian  life  with 
the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  their  profession, 
however  difficult. 

Fear  has  the  most  steady  effect  on  the  consti- 
tutional temperament  of  some  Christians,  to  keep 
them  in  their  course.  A  strong  sense  of  dvtt 
fixes  on  the  minds  of  others,  and  is  the  prevailing 
principle  of  conduct,  without  any  direct  reference 
to  consequences.  On  minds  of  a  stubborn,  re- 
fractory, and  self-willed  temper,  fear  and  dujy 
have  in  general  little  efiect :  they  brave  fear,  and 
a  mere  sense  of  duly  is  a  cold  and  lifeless  prin- 
ciple; but  gratitude,  under  a  strong  and  sub- 
duing sense  of  mercies,  melts  them  into  obedience. 

There  is  a  large  class,  who  would  confound 
nature  and  grace.  These  are  chiefly  women. 
They  sit  at  home,  nursing  themselves  over  a  fire, 
and  then  trace  up  the  natural  effects  of  solitude 
and  want  of  air  and  exercise  into  spiritual  deser- 
tion. There  is  more  pride  in  this  than  they  are 
aware  of.  They  are  unwilling  to  allow  so  simple 
and  natural  a  cause  of  their  feelings;  and  wisli  to 
find  something  in  the  thing  more  sublime. 

There  are  so  many  things  to  lower  a  man's 
topsails — he  is  such  a  dependent  creature — he  is 
to  pay  such  court  to  his  stomach,  his  food,  his 
sleep,  his  exercise — that,  in  truth,  a  hero  is  an  idle 
word.  Man  seems  formed  to  be  a  hero  in  suffer- 
ing— not  a  hero  in  action.  Men  err  in  nothing 
more  than  in  their  estimate  which  they  make  of 


REMAINS   OF  MR.  CECIL. 


77 


hum nn  labor.  The  hero  of  the  world  is  the  man 
that  makes  a  hustle — the  man  that  makes  the  road 
smoke  under  his  chaise-and-four — the  man  that 
raises  a  dust  about  him — the  man  that  manages  or 
devastates  empires  !  But  what  is  the  real  labor  of 
this  man — compared  with  that  of  a  silent  sufferer? 
He  lives  on  his  projects.  He  encounters,  perhaps, 
rough  roads — incommodious  inns — bad  food — 
storms  and  perils — weary  days  and  sleepless 
nights  : — but  what  are  these! — his  project — his 
point — the  thing  that  has  laid  hold  on  his  heart — 
glory — a  name — consequence — pleasure — wealth 
— -these  render  the  man  callous  to  the  pains  and 
efforts  of  the  body  !  I  ha»  e  been  in  both  states, 
and  therefore  understand  them  ;  and  I  know  that 
men  form  this  false  estimate.  Besides — there  is 
something  in  bustle,  and  slir,  and  activity,  that 
supports  itself.  At  one  period,  I  preached  and 
read  five  times  on  a  .Sunday,  and  rode  sixteen 
miles.  But  what  did  it  cost  me  ?  Nothing!  Yet 
most  men  would  have  looked  on  while  I  was  rat- 
tling from  village  to  village,  with  all  the  dogs 
balking  at  my  heels,  and  would  have  called  me  a 
hero:  whereas,  if  they  were  to  look  at  me  now, 
they  would  call  me  an  idle,  lounging  fellow. 
"He  makes  a  Sermon  on  the  Saturday —he  gets 
into  his  study — he  walks  from  end  to  end — he 
scribbles  on  a  scrap  of  paper — he  throws  it  away 
and  scribbles  on  another — be  takes  snuff — he  sits 
down — scribbles  again — walks  about."  The  man 
cannot  see  that  here  is  an  exhaustion  of  the 
spirit,  which,  at  night,  will  leave  me  worn  to  the 
extremity  of  endurance.  He  cannot  see  the  num- 
berless efforts  of  mind,  which  are  crossed  and 
stifled,  and  recoil  on  the  spirits;  like  the  fruitless 
efforts  of  a  traveller  to  get  firm  footing  among  the 
ashes  on  the  steep  sides  of  Mount  Etna.* 


*  See  Hie  Adventurer,  No.  cxxvii.    J.  P. 


73 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


Elijah  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  what  we 
call  a  great  spirit  :  yet  we  never  find  him  rising 
against  the  humiliating  methods,  which  God  was 
sometimes  pleased  to  take  with  him  ;  whether  he 
is  to  depend  for  his  daily  food  on  the  ravens,  or  is 
to  be  nourished  by  the  slender  pittance  of  a  perish- 
ing widow.  Pride  would  choose  for  us  such 
means  of  provision,  as  have  some  appearance  of 
our  own  agency  in  them;  and  stout-heartedness 
would  lead  lis  to  refuse  things,  if  we  cannot  have 
them  in  our  own  way. 

The  blessed  man  is  he,  who  is  under  education 
in  God's  school ;  where  he  endures  chastisement, 
and  by  chastisement  is  instructed.  The  foolish 
creature  is  bewitched,  sometimes  with  the  en- 
chantments and  sorceries  of  life.  He  begins  to 
lose  the  lively  sense  of  that  something,  which  is 
superior  to  the  glory  of  the  world.  His  grovelling 
soul  begins  to  say,  ''  Is  not  this  fine  ?  Is  not  that 
charming  ?  Is  not  that  noble  house  worth  a  wish  ? 
Is  not  that  equipage  worth  a  sigh  ?"  He  must  go 
to  the  word  of  God  to  know  what  a  thing  is  wurth. 
He  must  be  taught  there  to  call  things  by  their 
proper  names.  If  he  have  lost  this  habit,  when 
his  heart  puts  the  questions  he  will  answer  them 
like  a  fool  ;  as  I  have  done  a  thousand  times.  He 
will  forget  that  God  puts  his  children  into  posses- 
sion of  these  things,  as  mere  stewards;  and  that 
the  possession  of  them  increases  their  responsibil- 
ity. He  will  sit  down  and  plan,  and  scheme  to  ob- 
tain possession  of  things,  which  he  forgets  are  to 
be  burnt  and  destroyed.  But  God  dashes  the  fond 
scheme  in  pieces.  He  disappoints  the  project. 
And,  with  the  chastisement  he  sends  instruction; 
for  he  knows  that  the  silly  creature  if  left  to  him- 
self, would  begin,  like  the  spider  whose  web  has 
been  swept  away,  to  spin  again.   And  then  the  man 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


79 


sees  tliat  Job  is  blessed — not,  when  God  gives  him 
sons  and  daughters,  and  flocks  and  herds,  and 
power,  and  honor;  but  when  God  takes  all  these 
away — not  when  the  schemes  of  his  carnal  heart 
are  indulged  ;  but  when  they  are  crossed  and  dis- 
appointed. A  stubborn  and  rebellious  mind  in  a 
Christian,  must  be  kept  low  by  dark  and  trying 
dispensations.  The  language  of  God,  in  his  prov- 
idence, to  such  an  one,  is  generally  of  this  kind: 
"I  will  not  wholly  bide  myself.  I  will  be  seen  by 
thee.  But  thou  shall  never  meet  me,  except  in 
a  dark  night  and  ill  a  storm."  Ministers  of  such  a 
natural  spirit  are  often  fitted  for  eminent  useful- 
ness by  these  means. 

The  Christian,  in  his  sufferings,  is  often  tempted 
to  think  himself  forgotten.  But  his  affections  are 
the  clearest  proofs,  that  he  is  an  object  both  of  Sa- 
tan's enmity,  and  of  God's  fatherly  discipline.  Sa- 
tan would  not  have  man  suffer  a  single  trouble  all 
his  life  long,  if  he  might  have  his  way.  He  would 
give  him  the  thing  his  heart  is  set  upon.  He  would 
work  in  with  his  ambition.  He  would  pamper  his 
lusts  and  his  pride.  But  God  has  better  things  in 
reserve  for  his  children  :  and  they  must  be  brought 
to  desire  them  and  seek  them;  and  this  will  be 
through  'lie  wreck  and  sacrifice  of  all  that  the 
heart  holds  dear.  The  Christian  prays  for  fuller 
manifestations  of  Christ's  power  and  glory  and 
love  to  him  ;  but  he  is  often  not  aware,  that  this  is, 
in  truth,  praying  to  he  brought  into  the  furnace; 
for  in  the  furnace  only  it  is,  that  Christ  can  walk 
with  his  friends,  and  display,  in  their  preservation 
and  deliverance,  his  own  almighty  power.  Yet 
when  brought  thither,  it  is  one  of  the  worst  parts 
of  the  trial,  that  the  Christian  often  thinks  himself, 
for  a  time  at  least,  abandoned.  Job  thought  so. 
But  while  he  looked  on  himself  as  an  outcast,  the 


30 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


infinite  Spirit  and  the  wicked  Spirit  were  holding 
a  dialogue  on  his  case  !  He  was  more  an  object  of 
notice  and  interest,  than  the  largest  armies  that 
were  ever  assembled,  and  the  mightiest  revolutions 
that  ever  shook  the  world,  considered  merely  in 
their  temporal  interests  and  consequences.  Let 
the  Christian  he  deeply  concerned,  in  all  his  trials, 
to  honor  his  Master  before  such  observers  ! 

Affliction  has  a  tendency,  especially  if  long 
continued,  to  generate  a  kind  of  despondency  and 
ill-temper :  ami  spiritual  incapacity  is  closely  con- 
nected with  pain  and  sickness.  The  spirit  of  prayer 
does  not  necessarily  come  with  affliction.  If  this 
be  not  poured  out  upon  the  man,  he  will  like  a 
wounded  beast,  skulk  to  his  den  and  growl  there. 

God  has  marked  implicitness  and  simplicity 
of  faith  with  peculiar  approbation.  He  has  done 
this  throughout  the  Scripture  ;  and  he  is  doing  it 
daily  in  the  Christian  life.  An  unsuspecting,  un- 
questioning, unhesitating  spirit,  he  delights  to  hon- 
or. He  does  not  delight  in  a  credulous,  weak,  and 
unstable  mind.  He  gives  us  full  evidence,  when 
he  calls  and  leads  ;  but  he  expects  to  find  in  us — 
what  he  himself  bestows — an  open  ear  and  dispos- 
ed heart.  Though  he  gives  us  not  the  evidence  of 
sense  ;  yet  he  gives  such  evidence  as  will  be  heard 
by  an  open  ear,  and  followed  by  a  disposed  heart  : — 
Thomas  !  because  thou  hast  seen  me,  thou  hast  better- 
ed:  blessed  are  they  that  hare  not  seen,  and  yet  hart 
believed.  We  are  witnesses  w  hat  an  open  ear  and 
a  disposed  heart  will  do  in  men  of  the  world.  If 
wealth  is  in  pursuit — if  a  place  presents  itself  be- 
fore them — if  their  persons  and  families  and  affairs 
are  the  object — a  whisper,  a  hint,  a  probability,  a 
mere  chance,  is  a  sufficient  ground  of  action.  It 
is  this  very  state  of  mind  with  regard  to  religion, 


REMAINS   OF   MB.  CECIL. 


81 


which  God  delights  in  and  honors.  He  seems  to 
put  forth  his  hand,  and  to  say — "Put  thy  hand  in- 
to mine.  Follow  all  my  leadings.  Keep  thyself 
attentive  to  every  turn." 

A  sound  heart  is  an  excellent  casuist.  Men  stand 
douhting  what  they  shall  do,  while  an  evil  heart 
is  at  the  bottom.  If,  with  St.  Paul,  they  simply 
did  one  thing,  the  way  would  be  plain.  A  miser, 
or  an  ambitious  man,  knows  his  points  ;  and  he  has 
such  a  simplicity  in  the  pursuit  of  them,  that  you 
seldom  find  him  at  a  loss  about  the  steps  which 
he  should  take  to  attain  them.  He  has  acquired  a 
sort  of  instinctive  habit  in  his  pursuit.  Simplicity 
and  rectitude  would  have  prevented  a  thousand 
schisms  in  the  Church  ;  which  have  generally  risen 
from  men  having  something  else  in  plan  and  pros- 
pect, and  not  the  one  thing. 

What  I  do  thou  knowest  not  now  ;  but  thou  shall 
know  hereafter — is  the  unwearied  language  of  God, 
in  his  providence.  He  will  have  credit  every 
step.  He  will  not  assign  reasons,  because  he  will 
exercise  flith. 

Pride  urges  men  to  inquire  into  the  Philosopht 
of  divine  truth.  They  are  not  contented,  for  ex- 
ample, with  the  account  which  the  Bible  gives  of 
the  origin  of  evil,  and  its  actual  influence  on  man- 
kind ;  but  they  would  supply  what  God  has  left 
untold.  They  would  explain  the  fitness  and  pro- 
priety of  things.  A  mathematician  may  summon 
his  scholars  round  his  chair,  and  from  self-evident 
principles  deduce  and  demonstrate  his  conclusions  : 
he  has  axioms;  but  concerning  evil  we  have 
none.  A  Christian  may  say  on  this  subject,  as 
Sir  Christopher  Wren  did  concerning  the  roof 
of  King's  College  Chapel— "  Show  me  how  to  fix 


S3 


RF.MAI-NS    OF   MR.  CF.C1L. 


the  first  stone,  and  I  will  finish  the  building." — 
"Explain  the  origin  of  evil,  and  I  will  explain  ev- 
ery other  difficulty  respecting  evil."  We  ore  placed 
in  a  disposition  and  constitution  of  things,  under 
a  r'lghteous  Governor.  If  we  will  not  rest  satisfied 
with  this,  something  is  wrong  in  our  state  of  mind. 
It  is  ii  solid  satisfaction  to  every  man  who  has  been 
seduced  into  foolish  inquiries  that  it  is  utterly  im- 
possible to  advance  one  inch  by  them.  He  must 
come  back  to  rest  in  God's  appointment  ;  he  must 
come  back  to  sit  patiently,  meekly,  and  with  docil- 
ity, at  the  feet  of  a  teacher. 

Dctif.s  are  ours:  events  are  God's.  This  re- 
moves an  infinite  burden  from  the  shoulders  of  a 
miserable,  tempted,  dying  creature.  On  this  con- 
sideration only,  can  lie  securely  lay  down  his  head 
and  close  his  eyes. 

The  Christian  often  thinks,  and  schemes,  and 
talks,  like  a  practical  Atheist.  His  eye  is  so  con- 
versant with  second  causes,  that  the  great  Mover 
is  little  regarded.  And  yet  those  sentiments 
and  that  conduct  of  others,  by  which  his  af- 
fairs are  influenced,  are  not  formed  by  rhanceand 
at  random.  They  are  attracted  tow  ard  the  system 
of  his  affairs,  or  repelled  from  them,  by  the  highest 
power.  We  talk  of  attraction  in  the  universe;  but 
there  is  no  such  thing,  as  we  are  accustomed  to  con- 
sider it  The  natural  and  moral  worlds  are  held 
together  in  their  respective  operations,  by  an  in- 
cessant administration.  It  is  the  mighty  grasp  of 
a  controlling  hand,  which  keeps  every  thing  in  its 
station.  Were  this  control  suspended,  there  is 
nothing  adequate  to  the  preservation  of  harmony 
and  affection  between  my  mind  and  that  of  my 
dearest  friend,  for  a  single  hour. 

Lord  Chesterfield  tells  bis  son,  that  when  he 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


83 


entered  into  the  world  and  heard  the  conjectures 
and  notions  about  public  affairs,  he  was  surprised 
at  their  folly  ;  because  he  was  in  the  secret,  and 
knew  what  was  passing  in  the  cabinet.  We 
negotiate.  We  make  treaties.  We  make  war.  We 
cry  for  peace.  We  have  public  hopes  anil  fears. 
Wedistrust  one  minister,  and  we  repose  on  another. 
We  recal  one  general  or  admiral,  because  he  has 
lost  the  national  confidence,  and  we  send  out 
another  with  a  full  tide  of  hopes  and  expecta- 
tions. We  find  something  in  men  and  measures, 
as  the  sufficient  cause  of  all  sufferings  or  anticipa- 
tions.— But  a  religious  man  enters  the  cabinet.  He 
sees,  in  all  public  fears  and  difficulties,  the  pres- 
sure of  God's  hand.  So  long  as  this  pressure  con- 
tinues, he  knows  that  we  may  move  heaven  and 
earth  in  vain:  every  thing  is  bound  up  in  icy 
fetters.  But,  when  God  removes  his  hand,  the 
waters  flow,  measures  avail,  and  hopes  are  accom- 
plished. 

We  are  too  apt  to  forget  our  actual  dependence 
on  providence,  for  the  circumstances  of  every  in- 
stant. The  most  trivial  events  may  determine  our 
state  in  the  world.  Turning  up  one  street  instead 
qf  another,  may  bring  us  into  company  with  a  per- 
son whom  we  should  not  otherwise  have  met ;  and 
this  may  lead  to  a  train  of  other  events,  which 
may  determine  the  happiness  or  misery  of  our 
lives. 

Light  may  break  in  upon  a  man  after  he  has 
taken  a  particular  step  ;  but  he  will  not  condemn 
himself  for  the  step  taken  in  a  less  degree  of  light : 
he  may  hereafter  see  still  better  than  he  now  does, 
and  have  reason  to  alter  his  opinion  again.  It  is 
enough  to  satisfy  us  of  our  duty,  if  we  are  con- 
scious that  at  the  time  we  take  a  step,  we  have  an 


84 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


adequate  motive.  If  we  are  conscious  of  a  wrong 
motive,  or  of  a  rash  proceeding,  for  such  steps  we 
must  expect  to  suffer. 

Trouble  or  difficulty  befalling  us  after  any  par- 
ticular step,  is  not,  of  itself,  an  argument  that  the 
step  was  wrong.  A  storm  overtook  the  disciples 
in  the  ship;  but  this  was  no  proof  that  they  had 
done  wrong  to  go  on  board.  Esau  met  Jacob,  and 
occasioned  him  great  fear  and  anxiety,  when  he 
left  Laban  ;  but  this  did  not  prove  him  to  have 
done  wrong  in  the  step  which  he  had  taken.  Dif- 
ficulties are  no  ground  of  presumption  against  us, 
when  we  did  not  run  into  them  in  following  our 
own  will  :  yet  the  Israelites  were  with  difficulty 
convinced  that  they  were  in  the  path  of  duty,  when 
they  found  themselves  shut  in  by  the  Red  Sea- 
Christians,  and  especially  ministers,  must  expect 
troubles:  it  is  in  this  way  that  God  leads  them  : 
he  conducts  them  "per  ardua  ad  astra."  They 
would  be  in  imminent  danger  if  the  multitude  at 
all  times  cried  Hosanna  ! 

We  must  remember  that  we  are  short-sighted 
creatures.  We  are  like  an  unskilful  chess-player, 
who  takes  the  next  piece,  while  a  skilful  one  looks 
further.  He,  who  sets  the  end  from  the  beginning, 
will  often  appoint  us  a  most  inexplicable  way  to 
walk  in.  Joseph  was  put  into  the  pit  and  the  dun- 
geon :  but  this  was  the  way  which  led  to  the 
throne. 

We  often  want  to  know  too  much  and  too  soon. 
We  want  the  light  of  to-morrow,  but  it  will  not 
come  till  to-morrow.  And  then  a  slight  turn,  per- 
haps, will  throw  such  light  on  our  path,  that  we 
shall  be  astonished  we  saw  not  our  way  before. 
"  I  can  wait,"  says  Lavater.  This  is  a  high  attain- 
ment. We  must  labor,  therefore,  to  he  quiet  in 
that  path,  from  which  we  cannot  recede  without 
danger  and  evil. 


REMAINS   Or   MB.  CECIL. 


85 


There  is  not  a  nobler  sight  in  the  world,  than  an 
aged  and  experienced  Christian,  who,  having  been 
sifted  in  the  sieve  of  temptation,  stands  forth  as  a 
confirmer  of  the  assaulted — testifying,  from  his 
own  trials,  the  reality  of  religion  ;  and  meeting,  by 
his  warnings  and  directions  and  consolations,  the 
cases  of  all  who  may  be  tempted  to  doubt  it. 

The  Christian  expects  his  reward,  not  as  due  to 
merit ;  but  as  connected,  in  a  constitution  of  grace, 
with  tho?e  acts  which  grace  enables  him  to  per- 
form. The  pilgrim,  who  has  been  led  to  the  gate 
of  heaven,  will  not  knock  there  as  worthy  of  being 
admitted  ;  but  the  gate  shall  open  to  him,  because 
he  is  brought  thither.  He,  who  sows,  even  tvith 
tears,  the  precious  seed  of  faith,  hope  and  \ove,  shall 
doubtless  come  again  with  joy,  and  bring  his  sheaves 
with  him  ;  because  it  is  in  the  very  nature  of  that 
seed,  to  yield,  under  the  kindly  influence  secured 
to  it,  a  joyful  hai  vest. 


ON  SUBJECTS  CONNECTED  WITH  THE 
CHRISTIAN  MINISTRY. 

On  a  Minister's  qualifying  himself  for  his  office. 

When  a  young  minister  sets  our,  he  should  sit 
down  and  ask  himself  now  he  may  best  qual- 
ify himself  for  his  office. 

How  does  a  physician  qualify  himself!  It  is  not 
enough  that  he  offers  to  feel  the  pulse.  He  must 
read,  and  inquire,  and  observe,  and  make  experi- 
ments, and  correct  himself  again  and  again.  He 
must  lay  in  a  stock  of  medical  knowledge  before 
he  begins  to  feel  the  pulse. 


86 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


The  minister  is  a  jihysician  of  a  far  higher  order. 
He  has  a  vast  field  before  him.  He  has  to  study 
an  infinite  variety  of  constitutions.  He  is  to  furnish 
himself  with  the  knowledge  of  the  whole  system 
of  remedies.  He  is  to  be  a  man  of  skill  and  expe- 
dient. If  one  thing  fail,  he  must  know  how  to 
apply  another.  Many  intricate  and  perplexed 
cases  will  come  before  him:  it  will  be  disgraceful 
to  him  not  to  be  prepared  for  such.  His  patients 
will  put  many  questions  to  him:  it  will  be  dis- 
graceful to  him  not  to  be  prepared  to  answer 
them.  He  is  a  merchant  embarking  in  extensive 
concerns.  A  litile  ready  money  in  the  pocket  will 
not  answer  the  demands  that  will  be  made  upon 
him.  Some  of  us  seem  to  think  it  will.  But  they 
are  grossly  deceived.  There  must  be  a  well 
furnished  account  at  the  banker's. 

But  it  is  not  all  gold  that  glitters.  A  young 
minister  must  learn  to  separate  and  select  his 
materials.  A  man  who  talks  to  himself  will  find 
out  what  suits  the  heart  of  man:  some  things 
respond  :  they  ring  again.  Nothing  of  this  nature 
is  lost  on  mankind:  it  is  worth  its  weight  in  gold, 
for  the  service  of  a  minister.  He  must  remark, 
too,  what  it  is  that  puzzles  and  distracts  the  mind  : 
all  this  is  to  be  avoided  :  it  may  wear  the  garb  of 
deep  research,  and  great  acumen,  and  extensive 
learning;  but  it  is  nothing  to  the  mass  of  mankind. 

One  of  the  most  important  considerations  in 
making  a  sermon,  is  to  disembarrass  it  as  much  as 
possible.  The  sermons  of  the  last  century  were 
like  their  large,  unwieldy  chairs.  Men  have  now 
a  far  more  true  idea  of  a  chair.  They  consider 
it  as  a  piece  of  furniture  to  sit  upon,  and  they  cut 
away  from  it  every  thing  that  embarrasses  and 
encumbers  it.  It  requires  as  much  reflection  and 
wisdom  to  know  what  is  not  to  be  put  into  a  ser- 
mon, as  what  is. 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


S7 


A  young  minister  should  likewise  look  round 
him,  that  he  may  see  what  has  succeeded  and 
what  has  not.  Truth  is  to  be  his  companion,  but 
lie  is  to  clothe  her  so  as  to  gain  her  access.  Truth 
must  never  how  to  fashion  or  prejudice  ;  but  her 
garb  may  be  varied.  No  man  was  ever  eminently 
successful  in  his  ministry,  who  did  not  make 
Truth  his  friend.  Such  a  man  might  not  see  her, 
indeed,  in  all  her  beauty  and  proportions;  but, 
certainly,  he  saw  and  loved  her.  A  young  minis- 
ter should  remember  that  she  does  not  wear  the 
dress  of  a  party.  Wherever  she  is,  she  is  one  and 
the  same,  however  variously  men  may  array  her. 
He,  who  is  ignorant  of  her  prominent  and  distin- 
guishing features,  is  like  a  musician  who  plays 
half  score:  it  grates  on  every  well-formed  ear; 
as  fatal  error  finds  no  corresponding  vibration  in 
the  renewed  heart.  Truth  forms  an  immediate 
acquaintance  with  such  a  heart,  by  a  certain  fit- 
ness and  suitableness  to  its  state  and  feelings. 
She  is  something  different  from  the  picture  which 
n  Churchman  draws  of  her.  A  Dissenter  misses 
her  perfect  figure.  A  Frenchman  distorts  her 
features  in  one  wav  :  and  an  Englishman  in 
another.  Every  one  makes  his  own  cast  and 
color  too  essential  to  her. 

Knowledge,  then,  and  truth,  are  to  he  the  con- 
stant aim  of  a  young  minister.  But  where  shall 
he  find  them?  Let  him  learn  from  a  fool,  if  a 
fool  can  teach  him  any  thing.  Let  him  be  every- 
where, and  always  a  learner.  He  should  imitate 
Gainsborough.  Gainsborough  transfused  nature 
into  his  landscapes,  beyond  almost  any  of  his  con- 
temporaries: because  Gainsborough  was  every- 
where the  painter.  Every  remarkable  feature  or 
position  of  a  tree — every  fine  stroke  of  nature — 
was  copied  into  his  pocket-book  on  the  spot;  and, 
in  his  next  picture,  appeared  with  a  life  and  vivac- 


88 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


ity  and  nature,  which  no  strength  of  memory  or 
imagination  could  have  supplied. 

There  is  a  certain  wise  way,  too,  in  which  he 
should  accustom  himself  to  look  down  on  the  pur- 
suits of  all  other  men.  No  man  of  eminence  in 
his  profession  is  destitute  of  such  a  partial  feel- 
ing for  his  profession;  though  his  judgment  may 
remonstrate  with  him  thereon,  as  an  unfounded 
partiality.  The  minister,  however,  is  required 
so  to  view  all  other  pursuits.  He  alone  is  the 
man  whose  aim  is  eternity.  He  alone  is  the 
man,  whose  office  and  profession,  in  all  their 
parts,  are  raised  into  dignity  and  importance,  by 
their  direct  reference  to  eternity.  For  eternity 
he  schemes,  and  plans,  and  labors. 

He  should  become  a  philosopher  also.  He 
should  make  experiments  on  himself  and  others, 
in  order  to  find  out  what  will  produce  effect.  He 
is  a  fisherman;  and  the  fisherman  must  fit  himself 
to  his  employment.  If  some  fish  will  bite  only  by 
day,  he  must  fish  by  day  :  if  others  will  bite  only 
by  moon-light,  he  must  fish  for  them  by  moon- 
light. He  has  an  engine  to  work,  and  it  must  be 
his  most  assiduous  endeavor  to  work  his  engine 
to  the  full  extent  of  its  powers:  and,  to  find  out  its 
powers,  is  the  first  step  toward  success  and  effect. 
Many  men  play  admirably  on  the  organ,  if  you 
would  allow  to  them  that  there  is  no  difference 
between  an  organ  and  a  harpsichord,  but  they 
have  utterly  mistaken  its  powers.  Combination  is 
the  unrivalled  excellence  of  the  organ  ;  and  there- 
fore he  only  can  display  its  powers,  who  studies 
the  chords  and  stops  in  all  their  infinite  variety  of 
resolution  and  composition,  rather  than  the  rapid 
motion  of  his  fingers  only. 

But  all  the  minister's  efforts  will  be  vanity,  or 
worse  than  vanity,  if  he  have  not  unction.  Unc- 
tion must  come  down  from  heaven,  and  spread  a 
savor  and  relish  and  feeling  over  his  ministry. 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


89 


And,  among  all  the  other  means  of  qualifying 
himself  for  his  office,  the  Bihle  must  hold  the  first 
place,  and  the  last  also  must  be  given  to  the  word 
of  God  and  prayer. 


On  the  Assistance  which  a  Minister  has  reason  to 
expect  in  the  Discharge  of  his  Public  Duty. 

Me*  have  carried  their  views  on  this  subject 
to  extremes.  Enthusiasts  have  said  that  learning, 
and  that  studying  and  writing  sermons,  have  in- 
jured the  church.  The  accurate  men  have  said, 
"Go  and  hear  one  of  these  enthusiasts  hold 
forth  !" 

But  both  classes  may  be  rendered  useful.  Let 
each  correct  its  evils,  yet  do  its  work  in  its  own 
way. 

Some  men  set  up  exorbitant  notions  about  ac- 
curacy. But  exquisite  accuracy  is  totally  lost  on 
mankind.  The  greater  part  of  those  who  hear, 
cannot  be  brought  to  see  the  points  of  the  accurate 
man.  The  Scriptures  are  not  written  in  this  man- 
ner. I  should  advise  a  young  minister  to  break 
through  all  such  cobwebs,  as  these  unphilosophi- 
cal  men  would  spin  round  him.  An  humble  and 
modest  man  is  silenced,  if  he  sees  one  of  these 
critics  before  him.  He  should  say,  "I  am  God's 
servant.  To  my  own  master  I  stand  or  fall.  I 
will  labor  according  to  the  utmost  ability  which 
God  giveth,  and  leave  all  consequences  to  him." 

We  are  especially  taught  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment, to  glorify  the  Spirit  of  God;  and,  in  his 
gracious  operations  in  our  ministry,  we  are  nearer 
the  apostolic  times  than  we  often  think  ourselves. 
But  this  assistance  is  to  be  expected  by  us,  as  la- 
borers in  the  vineyard  ;  not  as  rhapsodists.  Idle 
men  may  be  pointed  out,  who  have  abused  the 


90 


REMAINS   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


doctrine  of  divine  assistance;  but  what  has  not 
been  abused  ?  We  must  expect  a  special  blessing 
to  accompany  the  truth  :  not  to  supersede  labor, 
but  to  rest  on  and  accompany  labor. 

A  minister  is  to  be  in  season,  and  out  of  season ; 
and,  therefore,  every  where  a  minister.  He  will 
not  employ  himself  in  writing  secular  histories: 
he  will  nut  busy  himself  in  prosecuting  mathe- 
matical inquiries.  He  will  labor  directly  in  his 
high  calling:  and  indirectly,  in  avast  variety  of 
ways,  as  he  may  be  enabled:  and  God  may  bless 
that  word  in  private,  which  may  have  been  long 
heard  in  public  in  vain. 

A  minister  should  satisfy  himself  in  saying,  "It 
matters  not  what  men  think  of  my  talents.  Am  I 
doing  what  I  can?" — for  there  is  great  encourage- 
ment in  that  commendation  of  our  Lord's,  She 
hath  done  what  she  could.  It  would  betray  a  wrong 
state  of  mind  to  say,  "  If  I  had  discharged  my  duty 
in  such  and  such  a  way,  I  should  have  succeeded." 
This  is  a  carnal  spirit.  If  God  bless  the  simple 
manner  in  which  \ou  spoke,  that  will  do  good;  if 
not,  no  manner  of  speaking  could  have  done  it. 

There  is  such  a  thing  in  the  religious  world  as 
a  cold,  carnal  wisdom  ;  every  thing  must  be  nicely 
weighed  in  the  scales:  every  thing  must  be  ex- 
actly measured  by  the  rule.  I  question  if  this  is 
not  worse,  in  its  consequences,  than  the  enthu- 
siasm which  it  opposes.  Both  are  evil  anil  to  be 
shunned.  But  I  scarcely  ever  knew  a  preacher 
or  writer  of  this  class  who  did  much  good. 

We  are  to  go  forth,  expecting  the  excellency  of 
Gorf's  power  to  accompany  us,  since  we  are  but 
earthen  vessels:  and  if.  in  the  apostolic  days,  dili- 
gence was  necessary,  how  much  more  requisite  is 
it  now  ! 

But,  to  the  exercise  of  this  diligence,  a  suffi- 
ciency in  all  things  is  promised.    What  does  a 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


91 


minister  require  ?  In  all  these  respects  the  promise 
is  applicable  to  him.  He  needs,  for  instance, 
courage  and  patience:  he  may,  therefore,  expect 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  will  enable  him  for  the  exer- 
cise of  these  graces. 

A  minister  may  expect  more  superintendence, 
more  elevation,  than  a  hearer.  It  can  scarcely  be 
questioned  that  he  ought  to  pray  for  this  ;  if  so, 
he  has  a  ground  in  Scripture  thus  to  pray. 

I  have  been  cured  of  expecting  the  Holy  Spirit's 
influence  without  due  preparation  on  our  part,  by 
observing  how  men  preach  who  take  up  that 
error.  I  have  heard  such  men  talk  nonsense  by 
the  hour. 

We  must  combine  Luther  with  St.  Paul — "Bene 
orasse  est  bene  stvdvisse,"  must  be  united  with  St. 
Paul's  Meditate  upon  these  things  :  give  thyself  wholly 
to  them,  that  thy  profiting  may  appear  to  all.  One 
errs  who  says,  "  I  will  preach  a  reputable  ser- 
mon :"  and  another  errs  who  says,  "  1  will  leave 
all  to  the  assistance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,"  while  he 
has  neglected  a  ddigent  preparation. 


On  Preaching  Christ. 

We.  preach  Christ  crucified— I  Cor.  i.  23. 

Christ  is  God's  great  ordinance.  Nothing 
ever  has  been  done,  or  will  be  done  to  purpose, 
but  so  far  as  he  is  held  forth  with  simplicity.  All 
the  lines  must  centre  in  him.  I  feel  this  in  my 
own  experience,  and  therefore  I  govern  my  minis- 
try by  it:  but  then  this  is  to  be  done  according  to 
the  an  ogy  of  faith — not  ignorantly,  absurdly,  and 
falsely.  1  doubt  not,  indeed,  but  that  excess  on 
this  side  is  less  pernicious  than  excess  on  the 
other;  because  God  will  bless  his  own  especial 


92 


REMAINS  OP  MR.  CECIL. 


ordinance,  though  partially  understood  and  par- 
tially exhibited. 

There  are  many  weighty  reasons  for  render- 
ing Christ  prominent  in  our  ministry  : — 

1.  Christ  cheers  the  prospect.  Every  thing  con- 
nected with  him  has  light  and  gladness  thrown 
round  it.  I  look  out  of  my  window  : — the  scene  is 
scowling — dark — frigid — forbidding:  I  shudder — 
my  heart  is  chilled.  But  ht  the  sun  break  forth 
from  the  cloud — I  can  feel — I  can  act — I  can 
spring. 

2.  God  descending  and  dwelling  with  man,  is  a 
truth  so  infinitely  grand,  that  it  mvst  absorb  all 
other.  "You  are  his  attendants !  Well!  but  the 
king  !   There  he  is  ! — the  kino  !" 

3.  Out  of  Christ  God  is  not  intelligible,  much 
less  amiable.  Such  men  as  Clarke  and  Abernethy 
talk  sublime  nonsense.  A  sick  woman  said  to  me 
— 'Sir!  I  have  no  notion  of  God.  I  can  form  no 
notion  of  him.  You  talk  to  me  ahout  him,  but  I 
cannot  get  a  single  idea  that  seems  to  contain  any 
thing' — '  But  you  know  how  to  conceive  of  Jesus 
Christ  as  a  man  !  God  comes  down  to  you  in  him, 
full  of  kindness  and  condescension.' — 'Ah!  Sir, 
that  gives  me  something  to  lay  hold  on.  There  I 
can  rest.  I  understand  God  in  his  Son.'  But  if 
God  is  not  intelligible  out  of  Christ,  much  less  is 
he  amiable,  though  1  ought  to  feel  him  so.  He  is 
an  object  of  horror  and  aversion  to  me,  corrupted 
as  I  am  !  I  fear — I  tremble — I  resist— I  hate — 1 
rebel. 

4.  A  preacher  may  pursue  his  topic,  without 
being  led  by  it  to  Christ.  A  man  who  is  accus- 
tomed to  investigate  topics  is  in  danger.  He 
takes  up  his  topic  and  pursues  it.  He  takes  up 
another  and  pursues  it.  At  length  Jesus  Christ  be- 
comes his  topic,  and  then  he  pursues  that.  If  he 
cannot  so  feel  and  think  as  to  bend  all  subjects 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


93 


naturally  and  gracefully  to  Christ,  he  must  seek 
his  remedy  in  selecting  such  as  are  more  evan- 
gelical. 

5.  God  puts  peculiar  honor  on  the  preaching  of 
Christ  crucified.  A  philosopher  may  philosophize 
his  hearers,  hut  the  preaching  of  Christ  must  con- 
vert them.  John  the  Baptist  will  make  his  hear- 
ers tremble;  but,  if  the  least  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  greater  than  he,  let  him  exhibit  that  pe- 
culiar feature  of  his  superiority — Jesus  Christ. 
Men  may  preach  Christ  ignorantly— blunderingly 
— absurdly  :  yet  God  will  give  it  efficacy,  be- 
cause he  is  determined  to  magnify  bis  own 
ordinance. 

G.  God  seems,  in  the  doctrine  of  the  cross,  to 
design  the  destruction  of  man's  pride.  Even  the 
murderer  and  the  adulterer  sometimes  become 
subjects  of  the  grace  of  the  Gospel,  because  the 
murderer  and  adulterer  are  more  easily  convinced 
and  humbled  :  but  the  man  of  virtue  is  seldom 
reached,  because  the  man  of  virtue  disdains  to 
descend.  Remember  me,  saved  a  dying  malefac- 
tor!—  God,  I  thank  Thee,  condemned  a  proud 
Pharisee  ! 

Every  minister  should  therefore  inquire,  "What 

IS  FOR  ME  THE  WISEST  WAY  OF  PREACHING  CHRIST 

to  men?"  Some  seem  to  think  that  in  the  choice 
of  a  wise  way,  there  lurks  always  a  trimming  dis- 
position. There  are  men,  doubtless,  who  will 
sacrifice  to  self,  even  Christ  Jtsus  the  Lord:  but 
they,  of  all  men,  are  farthest  from  the  thing. 
There  is  a  secret  in  doing  it,  which  none  but  an 
honest  man  can  discover.  The  knave  is  not  half 
wise  enough. 

We  are  not  to  judge  one  another  in  these  things. 
Sufficient  it  is  to  us,  to  know  what  we  have  to  do. 
There  are  different  ways  of  doing  the  same  thing, 


94 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


and  that  with  success  and  acceptance.  We  see 
this  in  the  apostles  themselves.  They  not  only 
preached  Christ  in  different  ways;  but,  what  is 
more,  they  could  not  do  this  like  one  another. 
They  declare  this  fact  themselves  ;  and  acknowl- 
edge t tie  grace  of  (iod  in  their  respective  gifts. 
Our  beloved  brother  Paul  writes,  says  St.  Peter,  ac- 
cording to  the  wisdom  given  unto  him.  But  there 
are  Peters,  in  our  days,  who  would  say — "  Paul  is 
too  learned.  Away  with  these  things,  which  are 
hard  to  be  understood.  He  should  he  more  simple. 
I  dislike  all  this  reasoning."  And  there  are  Pauls, 
who  would  say,  "Peter  is  rash  and  unguarded. 
He  should  put  a  curb  on  his  impetuosity."  And 
there  are  Johns,  who  would  say,  "They  should 
both  discharge  their  office  in  my  solt  and  winning 
manner.  No  good  will  come  of  this  fire  and 
noise."  Nothing  of  this  sort !  Each  hath  his  proper 
gift  of  God;  one  after  this  manner,  and  another 
after  that:  and  each  seems  only  desirous  to  occupy 
faithfully  till  his  Master  come,  leaving  his  biethren 
to  stand  or  fall  to  their  oivn  Master. 

Too  much  dependance  is  often  placed  on  a 
system  of  rational  co.ntriva.ncr.  An  ingenious 
man  thinks  he  can  so  manage  to  preach  Christ, 
that  his  hearers  will  say — "Here  is  nothing  of 
methodism  !  This  lias  nothing  to  do  with  that  sys- 
tem !"  I  will  venture  to  say,  if  this  is  the  senti- 
ment communicated  by  his  ministry,  that  he  has 
not  delivered  his  message.  The  people  do  not 
know  what  he  means,  or  he  has  kept  back  part  of 
God's  truth.  He  has  fallen  on  a  carnal  con- 
trivance, to  avoid  a  cross,  anil  he  does  no  good  to 
souls.  The  whole  message  must  be  delivered  ; 
and  it  is  better  it  should  be  delivered  even  coarsely, 
than  not  at  all.  We  may  lay  it  down  as  a  prin- 
ciple— That  if  the  Gospel  be  a  m f.dici.ne,  and  a 
specific  too — as  it  is — it  must  be  got  down  such 


REMAINS  OF   MR.  CECIL. 


05 


as  it  is.  Any  attempt  to  sophisticate  and  adul- 
terate will  deprive  it  of  its  efficacy:  and  will  often 
recoil  on  the  man  who  makes  the  attempt,  to  his 
shame  and  confusion.  The  Jesuits  tried  to  render 
Christianity  palatable  to  the  Chinese  by  adulter- 
ating it ;  hut  the  Jesuits  were  driven  with  abhor- 
rence from  the  empire. 

If  we  have  to  deal  with  men  of  learning,  let  us 
shew  learning  so  far  as  to  demonstrate  that  it 
bears  its  testimony  to  the  truth.  But  accommoda- 
tion in  manner  must  often  spring  from  humility. 
We  must  condescend  to  the  capacity  of  men,  and 
make  the  truth  intelligible  to  them. 

If  this  be  our  manner  of  preaching  Christ,  we 
must  make  up  our  minds  not  to  regard  the  little 
caviller  who  will  judge  us  by  the  standard  of  his 
favorite  author  or  preacher.  We  must  be  cau- 
tious, too,  since  men  of  God  have  been  and  ever 
will  be  the  butt  and  scorn  of  the  world,  of  think- 
ing that  we  can  escape  its  snares  and  its  censures. 
It  is  a  foolish  project — To  avoid  giving  offence  ; 
but  it  is  our  duty  to  avoid  giving  unnecessary 
offence.  It  is  necessary  offence,  if  is  given  by  the 
truth  ;  but  it  is  unnecessary,  if  our  own  spirit  oc- 
casion it. 

I  have  often  thought  that  St.  Paid  was  raised 
up  peculiarly  to  be  an  example  to  others,  in  labor- 
ing to  discover  the  wisest  way  of  exhibiting  the 
Gospel  ;  not  only  that  he  was  to  be  a  great  pat- 
tern in  other  points,  but  designedly  raised  up  for 
this  very  thing.  How  does  lie  labor  to  make  the 
truth  reasonably  plain  !  How  does  he  strain 
every  nerve  and  ransack  every  corner  of  the  heart, 
to  make  it  reasonably  palatable!  We  need 
not  be  instructed  in  his  particular  meaning  when 
he  says,  I  became  all  things  to  all  men,  if  by  any 
means  I  might  save  some.  His  history  is  a  com- 
ment on  the  declaration. 


96 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


The  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ  is  a  wonderful 
mystery.  Some  men  think  they  preach  Christ 
gloriously  because  they  name  him  every  two 
minutes  in  their  sermons.  But  that  is  not  preach- 
ing Christ.  To  understand,  and  enter  into,  and 
open  his  various  offices  and  characters — the  glo- 
ries of  his  person  and  work — his  relation  to  us. 
and  ours  to  him,  and  to  God  the  Father  and  God 
the  Spirit  through  him — this  is  the  knowledge  of 
Christ.  The  divines  of  the  present  day  are  stunted 
dwarfs  in  this  knowledge,  compared  with  the 
great  men  of  the  last  ago.  To  know  Jesus  Christ 
for  ourselves,  is  to  make  him  a  consolation, — de- 
light,—  strength, —  righteousness, —  compan- 
ion,— and  end. 

This  is  the  aspect  in  which  religion  should  be 
presented  to  mankind :  it  is  suited,  above  all 
other,  to  produce  effect;  and  effect  is  our  object. 
We  must  lake  human  nature  as  we  find  human 
nature.  We  must  take  human  nature  in  great 
cities,  as  we  find  human  nature  in  great  cities. 
We  may  say — -'this  or  that  is  the  aspect  which 
ought  to  have  most  effect:  we  must  illuminate 
the  mind  :  we  must  enlist  the  reason  :  we  must 
attack  the  conscience."  We  may  do  all  this,  and 
yet  our  comparative  want  of  success  in  begetting 
and  educating  the  sons  of  glory,  may  demonstrate 
to  us  that  there  is  some  more  effective  way;  and 
that  sound  sense  and  philosophy  call  on  us  to 
adopt  that  way,  because  it  is  the  most  effective. 

Our  system  of  preaching  must  meet  mankind  : 
they  must  find  it  possible  to  live  in  the  bustle  of 
the  world,  and  yet  serve  God  :  after  being  worried 
and  harassed  with  its  concerns,  let  them  hear 
cheering  truths  concerning  Christ's  love  and  care 
and  pity,  which  will  operate  like  an  enchantment 
in  dispelling  the  cares  of  life,  and  calming  the 
anxious  perturbations  of  conscience.    Bring  for- 


REMAINS  Or  MR.  CECIL- 


97 


ward  privileges  and  enforce  duties,  in  their  proper 
places  and  proportions. 

Let  there  be  no  extremes:  yet  I  am  arrived  at 
this  conviction :— Men,  who  lean  toward  the  ex- 
treme of  evangelical  privileges  in  their  ministry, 
do  much  more  to  the  conversion  of  their  hearers; 
than  they  do,  who  lean  toward  the  extreme  of 
requirement.  And  my  own  experience  con- 
firms my  observation.  I  feel  myself  repelled,  if 
any  thing  chills,  loads,  or  urges  me.  This  is  my 
nature,  and  I  see  it  to  be  very  much  the  nature  of 
other  men.  But,  let  me  hear,  Son  of  man,  thou 
hast  played  the  harlot  with  many  lovers ;  yet  return 
again  to  me,  saith  the  Lord — 1  am  melted  and 
subdued. 


On  a  Minister's  Familiar  Intercourse  with  his 
Hearers. 

What  passes,  on  these  occasions,  too  often 
savors  of  this  world.  We  become  one  among  our 
hearers.  Tliey  come  to  church  on  Sunday  ;  and  we 
preach  :  the  week  comes  round  again  and  its  non- 
sense with  it.  Now  if  a  minister  were  what 
he  should  be,  the  people  would  feel  it.  They 
would  not  attempt  to  introduce  this  silly,  di- 
urnal chat!  When  we  countenance  this,  it  looks 
as  though,  "On  the  Sunday  1  am  ready  to  do  Mr 
business;  and,  in  the  week,  you  may  do  ronas." 
This  lowers  the  tone  of  what  I  say  on  the  Sab- 
bath.   It  forms  a  sad  comment  on  my  preaching. 

I  have  traced,  I  think,  some  of  the  evil  that  lies 
at  the  root  of  this.  We  are  more  concerned  to  be 
thought  gentlemen,  than  to  be  felt  as  ministers. 
Now  being  desirous  to  be  thought  a  man  who  has 
kept  good  company,  strikes  at  the  root  of  thtt 
rough  work — the  bringing  of  God  into  his  own 


OS 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


■world.  It  is  hnrd  and  rough  work  to  bring  God 
into  his  own  world.  To  talk  of  a  Creator,  and 
Preserver,  and  Redeemer,  is  an  outrage  on  the 
feelings  of  most  companies. 

There  is  important  truth  in  what  Mr.  Wesley 
said  to  his  preachers,  when  rightly  understood, 
however  it  may  have  been  ridiculed: — "You  have 
mo  more  to  do  with  being  gentlemen,  than  dancing 
piasters."  The  character  of  a  minister  is  far  be- 
yond that  of  a  mere  gentleman.  It  takes  a  higher 
walk.  He  will,  indeed,  study  to  be  a  real  gentle- 
man :  he  will  be  the  farthest  possible  from  a  rude 
man :  he  will  not  disdain  to  learn  nor  to  practise 
the  decencies  of  society :  but  he  will  sustain  a  still 
higher  character. 

It  is  a  snare  to  a  minister  when  in  company,  to 
be  drawn  out  to  converse  largely  on  the  state  of 
the  funds,  and  on  the  news  of  the  day.  lie  should 
know  the  world,  and  what  is  doing  in  the  world, 
and  should  give  things  of  this  nature  their  due 
place  and  proportion  ;  but  if  he  can  be  drawn  out 
to  give  twenty  opinions  on  this  or  that  subject  of 
politics  or  literature,  he  is  lowered  in  his  tone.  A 
man  of  sense  feels  something  violent  in  the  tran- 
sition from  such  conversation  to  the  Bible  and  to 
prayer. 

Dinner  visits  can  seldom  be  rendered  really 
profitable  to  the  mind.  The  company  are  bo 
much  occupied,  that  little  good  is  to  be  done.  A 
minister  should  shew  his  sense  of  the  value  of 
time:  it  is  a  snd  thing  when  those  around  him 
begin  to  yawn.  He  must  be  a  man  of  business. 
It  is  not  sufficiently  considered  how  great  the  sin 
of  idleness  is.  We  talk  in  the  pulpit  of  the  value 
of  time,  but  we  act  too  little  on  what  we  say. 

Let  a  minister  who  declines  associating  much 
with  his  hearers,  satisfy  himself  that  he  has  a 
good  reason  for  doing  so.    If  reproached  for  not 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


99 


visiting  them  so  much  as  they  wish,  let  him  hav« 
a  just  reason  to  assign.  A  man  who  is  at  work 
for  his  family,  may  have  as  much  love  for  them  an 
the  wife,  though  she  is  always  with  them. 

I  fell  into  a  mistake,  when  a  young  man,  in 
thinking  that  1  could  talk  with  men  of  the  world 
on  their  own  ground,  and  could  thus  win  them 
over  to  mine.  I  was  fond  of  painting,  and  so 
talked  with  them  on  that  subject.  This  pleased 
them  :  but  I  did  not  consider  that  1  gave  a  conse- 
quence to  their  pursuits  which  does  not  belong  to 
them  ;  whereas  I  ought  to  have  endeavored  to 
raise  them  above  these,  that  they  might  engage  in 
higher.  I  did  not  see  this  at  the  time  :  but  I  now 
see  it  to  have  been  a  great  error.  A  wealthy  man 
builds  a  fine  house,  and  opens  to  himself  fine  pros- 
pects :  he  wants  you  to  see  them,  for  he  is  sick 
of  them  himself.  They  thus  draw  you  into  their 
schemes.  A  man  has  got  ten  thousand  pounds : 
you  congratulate  him  on  it,  and  that  without  any 
intimation  of  his  danger  or  his  responsibility. 
Now  you  may  tell  him  in  the  pulpit  that  riches 
are  nothing  worth;  but  you  will  tell  him  this  in 
vain,  while  you  tell  him  out  of  it  that  they  are. 

Lord  Chesterfield  says,  a  man's  character  is  de- 
graded when  he  is  to  be  had.  A  minister  ought 
never  to  be  had. 

On  a  Minister's  encouraging  Animadversion  an 
himse\f. 

It  is  a  serious  inquiry  for  a  minister,  how  far 

HE  SHOULD  ENCOURAGE  ANIMADVERSION  ON  HIM- 
SELF in  his  hearers.  He  will  encounter  many 
ignorant  and  many  censorious  remarks,  but  he 
may  gain  much  on  the  whole. 

He  should  lay  down  to  himself  a  few  princi- 
ples. 


100 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


It  is  better  that  a  minister  smart  than  mistake.  It 
is  better  that  a  traveller  meet  a  surly,  impertinent 
fellow  to  direct  him  his  way,  than  lose  his  way. 
A  minister  is  so  important  in  his  office,  that,  what- 
ever others  think  of  it,  lie  should  regard  this  and 
this  only  as  the  transaction  for  eternity.  But 
a  man  may  be  laboring  in  the  fire  :  he  may  be 
turning  the  world  upside  down,  ar.d  yet  be  wrong. 
You  say  he  must  read  his  Bible.  True!  but  he 
must  use  all  means.  He  must  build  his  useful- 
ness on  this  principle — if  by  ant  means.  If  the 
wheel  hitches,  let  him,  by  ant  means,  discover 
where  it  hitches.  This  principle  is  to  he  worked 
continually  in  his  mind.  He  must  labor  to  keep  it 
up  to  a  fine,  keen  edge.  Let  him  never  believe 
that  his  view  of  himself  is  sufficient.  A  merchant 
sailing  in  quest  of  gain,  is  so  intent  on  his  object, 
that  he  will  take  a  hint  from  any  man.  If  we  had 
all  the  meaning  to  which  we  pretend  in  our  pur- 
suits, we  should  feel  and  act  like  him. 

A  minister  must  lay  it  down  also  as  a  principle, 
that  he  will  never  sxijficiently  understand  his  own 
pride  and  self-love ;  and  that  confidtnee  in  his  own 
sense,  which  cleaves  closely  to  every  man.  He  must 
consider  this  as  the  general  malady.  Alan  is  blind 
and  obstinate — poor  and  proud.  This  silly  crea- 
ture through  ignorance  of  this  principle,  will  not 
only  not  hear  a  vulgar  hearer,  who  animadverts  on 
him;  but  he  will  scarcely  listen  to  a  superior  man 
among  his  hearers.  He  attends  to  such  a  one,  be- 
cause it  would  he  indecent  not  to  attend.  But  he 
finds  some  excuse  for  himself  in  his  own  bosom. 
He  reverences  what  is  said  very  little,  if  at  ail.  He 
strokes  and  flatters  himself,  and  makes  up  the  af- 
fair very  well  in  his  own  miud. 

A  minister  should  consider  how  much  mere  easily 
a  weak  man  can  read  a  wise  man,  than  a  wise  man 
can  read  himself :  and  that  for  this  reason — no  man 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


101 


can  see  and  hear  himself.  He  is  too  much  formed 
in  his  own  habits — his  family  notions — his  closet 
notions — to  detect  himself.  He,  who  stands  by 
and  sees  a  game  played,  has  vast  advantages  over 
the  players.  Besides,  preachers  err  systematically 
— learnedly — scientifically.  The  simple  hearer 
has  an  appeal  to  nature  in  his  heart.  He  can  often 
feel  that  his  minister  is  wrong,  when  he  is  not  able 
to  set  him  right.  Dr.  Manton,  no  doubt,  thought 
he  had  preached  well,  and  as  became  him,  before 
the  Lord  Mayor;  but  he  felt  himself  reproved 
and  instructed,  when  a  poor  man  pulled  him  by 
the  sleeve,  and  told  him  he  had  understood  noth- 
ing of  his  sermon  :  there  was  an  appeal  in  this  poor 
man's  breast  to  nature:  nature  could  not  make 
any  thing  of  the  Doctor's  learning.  When  Apelles 
took  his  stand  behind  his  picture,  he  was  a  wise 
man  :  and  he  was  a  wise  man  too,  when  he  alter- 
ed the  shoe  on  the  hint  of  the  cobhler  :  the  cobbler 
in  his  place,  was  to  be  heard. 

A  minister  should  consider,  too,  that  few  will 
venture  to  speak  to  a  public  man.  It  is  a  rare  thing 
to  hear  a  man  say — "Upon  my  word  that  thing, 
or  your  general  manner,  is  defective  or  improper." 
If  a  w\>e  man  says  this,  he  shows  a  regard,  which 
the  united  stock  ot  five  hundred  flatters  will  not 
equal.  I  would  set  down  half  the  blunders  of  min- 
isters to  their  not  listening  to  animadversion.  I 
have  heard  it  said — for  the  men,  who  would  ani- 
madvert on  us,  talk  among  themselves,  if  we  refuse 

to  let  them  talk  to  us  I  have  heard  it  said, 

"  Why  don't  you  talk  to  him  ?" — "  Why  don't  you 
talk  to  him!  because  he  will  not  hear!" 

Let  him  consider,  moreover,  that  this  aversion 
from  reproof  is  not  wise.  This  is  a  symptom  of  the 
disease.  Why  should  he  want  this  hushing  up  of 
the  disorder?  This  is  a  mark  of  a  little  mind.  A 
great  man  can  aflbrd  to  lose  :  a  little  insignificant 
fellow  is  afraid  of  being  snufied  out. 


102 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


A  minister  mistakes  who  should  refuse  to  read 
any  anonymous  letters.  He  may,  perhaps,  see 
nothing  in  them  the  first  time;  but,  let  him  read 
them  again  and  again.  The  writer  raises  his  su- 
perstructure, probably,  on  a  slight  basis;  yet  there 
is  generally  some  sort  of  occasion.  If  he  points 
out  but  a  small  error,  yet  that  is  worth  detecting. 

In  the  present  habits  of  men,  it  is  so  difficult  to 
get  them  to  tell  the  naked  truth,  that  a  minister 
should  show  a  disposition  to  be  corrected :  he 
should  show  himself  to  be  sensible  of  the  want  of 
it.  He  is  not  to  encourage  idle  people:  that  could 
be  productive  of  no  possible  good. 

These  are  some  of  the  reasons  for  a  minister's 
encouragement  in  a  judicious  manner,  of  animad- 
version on  himself  in  his  hecrers. 

Sometimes,  however,  a  man  will  come  who  ap- 
pears to  be  an  impertinent  man,  independently  of 
what  he  has  to  remark — a  man  who  has  evidently 
disposed  to  be  troublesome.  Such  a  man  came  to 
me,  with — "Sir,  you  said  such  a  thing  that  seemed 
to  lean  to  the  doctrine  of  universal  redemption. 
Pray,  Sir,  may  I  speak  a  little  with  you  on  that 
subject?"  The  manner  of  the  man  at  once  marked 
his  character.  He  seemed  to  bring  with  him  this 
kind  of  sentiment — "  I'll  go  and  set  that  man  right. 
I'll  call  that  man  to  account."  It  was  a  sort  of 
democratic  insolence  of  mind.  Instead  of  answer- 
ing him  as  he  expected,  I  treated  him  as  a  child. 
I  turned  it  into  an  occasion  of  preaching  a  sermon 
to  him  : — "  Sir,  do  you  corne  to  instruct  me,  or  to 
be  instructed  ?  Before  we  enter  on  a  question 
which  has  exercised  the  greatest  men,  we  want 
a  preparedness  of  mind:  we  want  a  deep  humili- 
ty— a  teachableness — a  spirit  of  dependence — of 
which  you  seem  to  me  to  have  but  little." 

On  the  other  hand,  a  man  may  come,  quite  as 
ignorant  as  the  other,  yet  a  simple  character.  I 


REMAINS   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


103 


have  distressed  him.  Though  he  cannot,  perhaps 
lie  made  to  understand  what  he  inquires  about — 
yet  a  minister  should  say  to  himself,  "'Have  I  puz- 
zled him  ?  He  is  wounded,  and  he  comes  for  help." 

A  minister  should  remember  that  he  is  not  al- 
ways to  act  and  speak  authoritatively.  He  sits  on 
tiis  friend's  chair,  and  his  friend  says  his  things 
to  hiui  with  frankness.  They  may  want  perhaps 
a  little  decorum ;  hut  he  should  receive  them  in 
the  most  friendly  and  good  humoured  way  in  the 
world.  A  thing  strikes  this  man  and  that  man  : 
he  may  depend  on  it,  that  it  has  some  foundation. 

But  there  are  persons,  whom  a  minister  should 
more  than  encourage  to  animadvert  on  him.  He 
should  employ  them.  He  should  explain  himself 
to  them.  He  does  not  merely  want  an  account  of 
his  sermon,  hut  he  employs  them  on  business.  To 
such  sensible  persons,  he  will  say — "What  serious 
judgment  do  you  lorm  of  my  preaching?  Do  tell 
me  what  sort  of  a  man  1  am." 

A  minister  has  to  treat  with  another  sort  of 
hearers — uncandid  men,  and  yet  men  of  capacity: 
a  sort  of  men,  who  are  not  now  pleased,  and  then 
displeased.  They  spy  a  blot  every  where.  He  is 
likely  to  make  a  mistake  with  regard  to  such 
men  : — "  What  signifies  the  opinion  of  that  man  ? 
That  man  can  never  be  pleased."  True !  that 
man  cannot  be  pleased  ;  hut  it  does  not  follow  that 
he  tells  you  no  truth.  In  treating  with  such  a 
man  he  should  say — His  edge  may  be  too  keen 
for  candor  and  sound  judgment;  yet  if  it  lays 
open  to  me  what  I  could  not  otherwise  see,  let  me 
improve  by  its  keenness.  What  hurt  can  he  do 
to  me?  He  may  damp  or  irritate  others,  by  talking 
thus  to  them;  but  let  me  learn  what  is  to  be  learnt 
from  him."  Such  a  man  lifts  a  minister  from  his 
standing,  where  he  settles  down  too  easily  and 
firmly.    If  1  know  u  man  to  be  of  this  class,  I  will 


104 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


distinguish:  "This  is  the  man:  but  that  is  my- 
self!"  If  I  would  write  a  book  to  stand  the  fire, 
Jet  rne  find  out  the  severest  censor.  My  friend  is 
but  hall  the  man  :  there  is  a  consentaneousuess  of 
sentiment  between  us:  we  have  fallen  in  together, 
till  we  scarcely  know  how  to  differ  from  each 
other.  Let  the  man  come  who  says — •'  Here  I 
can  discover  you  to  yourself;  and  there !"  The 
best  hints  are  obtained  from  snarling  people. 
Medicaments  make  the  patient  smart,  but  they 
heal. 

Yet  a  minister  must  not  take  this  in  the  gross. 
He  is  not  to  invite  rude  men  round  his  door.  If 
he  suffer  his  hearers  to  treat  him  irreverently,  if 
he  allow  them  to  dispute  with  him  on  every  occa- 
sion, he  will  bring  ruin  on  the  Church.  The 
priest's  lips  must  keep  knowledge.  If  a  parent 
allow  his  children  to  question  every  thing,  so  that 
nothing  is  to  be  settled  without  a  hundred  proofs, 
they  will  soon  despise  their  teacher,  for  they  will 
think  themselves  able  to  teach  liim.  The  minister 
must  have  decided  superiority  and  authority,  or 
he  will  want  one  of  the  principal  qualities  of  his 
ministry.  This  is  not  inconsistent  with  receiving 
hints.  He  may  mistake  in  some  things:  but  he 
should  mark  the  complexion  of  his  congregation 
in  deciding  how  far  they  are  to  be  heard  on  his 
mistakes.  If  the  people  are  heady,  forward,  con- 
fident in  their  own  sense,  they  are  never  to  be 
encouraged.    They  are  gone  too  far. 

On  the  Limits  ivhich  a  Minister  should  put  to  the 
indulgence  of  his  curiosity  with  regard  to  Pub- 
lic Exhibitions. 

An  extreme  is  to  be  avoided.  Some  persons 
would  condemn  even  rational  curiosity.  But  Me 
works  of  the  Lord  are  great :  sovght  out  of  all 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


105 


them  that  have  pleasure  therein.  I  would  not  ob- 
ject, therefore,  to  visit  the  museum  ;  or  to  go  to 
see  the  rare  natural  productions  often  exhibited.  I 
would  enlarge,  too,  my  views  of  man  and  the  world 
by  frequenting  the  panoramas  of  cities.  And 
though  I  would  not  run  after  every  sight,  yet  I 
wotdd  use  my  liberty  in  selecting.  But  some  are 
in  ati  opposite  extreme.  They  are  found  every- 
where. Hut  be,  who  sustains  a  character  of  a 
scribe  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  ought  not  to  be 
found  every  where.  The  man,  who  is  seeking  a 
heavenly  country,  will  show  the  spirit  of  one  whose 
conversation  is  there. 

There  is  something  in  religion,  when  rightly  ap- 
prehended, that  is  masculine  and  grand.  It  re- 
moves those  little  desires,  which  are  "the  constant 
hectic  of  a  fool." 

Every  thing  of  the  drama,  and  whatever  is  so 
distinctly  the  course  of  this  world,  must  be  shunned. 
If  a  minister  take  one  step  into  the  world,  bis 
bearers  will  take  two.  Much  maybe  learnt  from 
the  sentiments  of  men  of  the  world.  If  a  man  of 
this  character  who  heard  me  preach,  should  meet 
me  where  be  would  say,  "Why,  I  did  not  expect  to 
see  you  here!" — then  he  ought  not  have  seen  me 
there. 

There  must  be  measure  and  proportion  in  our  at- 
tention to  arts  and  sciences.  These  were  the  very 
idols  of  the  heathen  world  :  and  what  are  they, 
who  now  follow  them  with  an  idolatrous  eager- 
ness, but  like  children,  who  are  charmed  with  the 
sparkling  of  a  rocket,  and  yet  see  nothing  in  the 
sun  ? 

Yet  I  would  not  indulge  a  cynical  temper.  If  I 
go  through  a  gentleman's  gallery  of  pictures,  I 
would  say,  "This  is  an  admirable  Claude!"  but  I 
would  take  occasion  to  drop  a  hint  of  something 


106 


REMAINS   OF  MR.  CECIL. 


higher  and  better,  and  to  make  it  felt  that  I  fell  in 
with  these  things  rather  incidental);  than  purpose- 
ly. But  all  this  must  be  done  with  tenderness 
and  humility  :  "I  tread  on  the  pride  of  Plato," 
said  Diogenes,  as  he  walked  over  Plato's  carpet : 
Yes — and  with  more  pride,"  said  Plato. 

"They  pass  best  over  the  world,"  said  queen 
Elizabeth,  "  who  trip  over  it  quickly:  for  it  is  but 
a  bog.    If  we  stop,  we  sink." 

I  would  not  make  it  my  criterion — "Christ 
would  not  come  hither!"  /  must  take  a  lower 
standard  in  these  things.  /  am  a  poor  creature, 
and  must  be  contented  to  learn  in  many  places  and 
by  many  scenes,  which  Christ  need  not  to  have 
frequented. 


On  the  mer.ns  of  promoting  a  Spirit  of  Devotion  in 
Congregations. 

Let  us  ask,  "  What  is  man  ?"  He  is  a  creature 
of  feeling,  as  well  as  of  intellect.  We  must  inter- 
est him  as  we  can.  It  is  unphilqsophical  to  depend 
on  the  mere  statement  of  truth.  No  doubt  there 
is  a  contrary  error:  for  what  is  the  cnrl  of  exciting 
attention,  if  there  is  nothing  deserving  attention  ? 

It  is  of  the  first  importance  to  put  meaning  into 
every  part  of  the  service.  In  either  extreme,  of 
appealing  to  the  understanding  or  the  feelings, 
there  may  be  no  meaning:  in  a  dull  and  lifeless 
preacher,  there  is  no  meaning;  and  in  one  of  a 
contrary  character  there  may  be  nothing  worthy 
of  the  name. 

There  is,  besides,  too  little  attention,  in 
many  churches,  to  man  as  man.  I  would  consult 
his  convenience  in  all  lawful  points.  If  he  could 
sit  easier  on  cushions,  he  should  have  cushions.  I 
would  not  tell  him  to  be  warm  in  God's  service, 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


107 


while  I  leave  him  to  shiver  with  cold.  No  doors 
should  creak  :  no  windows  should  rattle. 

Music  has  an  important  effect  on  devotion. 
Wherever  fantastical  music  enters,  it  betrays  a  cor- 
rupt principle.  A  congregation  cannot  enter  into 
it ;  or  if  it  does,  it  cannot  be  a  Christian  congrega- 
tion. Wherever  there  is  an  attempt  to  set  off  the 
music  in  the  service,  and  the  attempt  is  apparent, 
it  is  the  first  step  toward  carnality.  Though  there 
is  too  little  life  in  the  style  of  music  adopted  among 
the  Moravians,  yet  the  simplicity  of  Christianity 
pervades  their  devotion. 

Order  is  important.  Some  persons  by  coming 
in  when  they  please,  propagate  a  loose  habit  of 
mind.  For  man  is  a  sympathetic  creature;  and 
what  he  sees  others  neglect,  he  is  in  danger  of 
growing  negligent  in  himself.  If  the  reader  goes 
through  the  service  as  though  the  great  business 
for  which  they  are  assembled  is  not  yet  begun,  the 
people  will  soon  feel  thus  themselves. 

The  minister  should  take  occasion  frequently  to 
impress  on  the  people  the  importance  of  the 
work  in  which  they  are  engaged.  It  is  not  enough 
to  take  it  for  granted  that  they  feel  this.  We  must 
take  nothing  for  granted.  Man  needs  to  be  remind- 
ed of  every  thing,  for  he  soon  forgets  every  thing. 

Monotony  must  be,  above  all  things,  avoided. 
The  mind  is  vagrant:  monotony  cannot  recal  it. 
There  may  be  continued  vehemence,  while  the  at- 
tention is  not  excited;  it  is  disturbance  and  noise: 
there  is  nothing  to  lead  the  mind  into  a  useful  train 
of  thought  or  feeling. 

There  is  an  opposite  error  to  vehemence.  Men 
of  sense  and  literature  depress  devotion  by  treating 
things  abstracted ly.  Simplicity,  with  good 
sense,  is  of  unspeakable  value.  Religion  must  not 
be  rendered  abstract  and  curious.  If  a  curious  re- 
mark presents  itself,  reserve  it  for  another  place. 
The  hearer  gets  away  from  the  bustle  and  busi- 


108 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


ness  of  the  week:  he  comes  trembling  under  his 
fears:  he  would  mount  upward  in  his  spirit:  but 
a  curious  etymological  disquisition  chills  and  re- 
pels him. 

In  truth,  we  should  he  men  of  business  in  our 
congregations.  We  should  endeavor  both  to  ex- 
cite and  instruct  our  hearers.  We  should  render 
the  service  an  interesting  affair  in  ail  its  parts.  We 
should  rouse  men :  we  should  bind  up  the  broken 
hearted  :  we  should  comfort  the  feeble  minded :  we 
should  support  theweak  :  we  should  become  all  things 
to  all  men,  if  by  any  means  we  may  save  some. 


On  the  Marriage  of  Christian  Ministers. 

It  seems  to  me,  that  many  men  do  not  give  suf- 
ficient weight  to  our  Lord's  observations  upon 
those  uho  made  themselves  eunitchs  for  the  kingdom 
of  heaven's  sake,  nor  to  St.  Paul's  reasoning  on  the 
subject  of  marriage.  I  would  only  imply,  that  both 
our  Lord  and  the  apostle  seem  to  establish  it  in  a 
principle,  that  a  single  state  when  it  can  be  chosen 
and  is  chosen  for  the  sake  of  the  gospel,  is  the  su- 
perior state.  This,  I  fear,  is  too  much  forgotten  ; 
and  those  men,  who  might  have  received  the  saying, 
and  have  done  more  service  to  the  church  of  God 
by  receiving  it,  have  given  it  little  or  no  weight  in 
their  deliberations. 

And  yet  it  ought  to  be  considered,  that  the  very 
character  which  would  best  fit  men  for  living  in  a 
single  state,  would  abstract  them  too  much  from  the 
feelings  and  wants  of  their  people.  Iam  fully  sen- 
sible that  I  should  have  been  hardened  against  the 
distresses  of  my  hearers,  if  I  had  not  been  reduced 
from  my  natural  stoicism  by  domestic  sufferings. 

The  cases,  I  allow,  are  extremely  few,  in  which 
a  man  may  do,  on  the  whole,  more  service  to  the 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


109 


church,  by  imitating  St.  Paul,  than  by  marrying : 
yet  there  are  such  cases ;  and  it  behooves  every 
minister  seriously  to  consider  himself  and  his  situ  - 
ation,  before  he  determines  on  marriage.  He 
should  not  regard  this  state  as  indispensably  ne- 
cessary to  him,  but  should  always  remember,  that, 
caeteris  paribus,  he,  who  remains  single  is  most 
worthy  of  honour. 

But,  when  it  is  proper  that  a  minister  should 
marry,  and  he  has  determined  to  do  it,  how  few 
select  such  women  as  suit  their  high  and  holy 
character!  A  minister  is  like  a  man  who  has  under- 
taken to  traverse  the  world.  He  has  not  only  fair 
and  pleasant  ground  to  travel  over,  but  he  must 
encounter  deserts  and  marshes  and  mountains. 
The  traveller  wants  a  firm  and  steady  stay.  His 
wife  should  be  above  all  things,  a  woman  of  faith 
and  prayer — a  woman,  too,  of  a  sound  mind  and 
of  a  tender  heart — and  one  who  will  account  it  her 
glory  to  lay  herself  out  in  co-operating  with  her 
husband  by  meeting  his  wants  and  soothing  his 
cares.  She  should  he  his  unfailing  resource,  so 
far  as  he  ought  to  seek  this  in  the  creature.  Bless- 
ed is  she,  who  is  thus  qualified  and  thus  lives! 

But  after  all,  the  married  minister,  if  he  would 
live  devotedly,  must  move  in  a  determined  sphere. 
Whatever  his  wife  may  be,  yet  she  is  a  woman — 
and  if  things  are  to  go  on  well,  they  must  have  two 
separate  worlds.  There  may,  indeed,  be  cases, 
when  a  man  with  something  of  a  soft  and  feminine 
cast  about  his  mind,  may  be  united  to  a  woman 
of  a  mind  so  superior  and  cultivated,  that  he  may 
choose  to  make  it  his  plan  that  they  shall  move  in 
the  same  world.  In  such  rare  cases  it  may  be 
done  with  less  inconvenience  than  in  any  other. 
But,  even  here,  the  highest  end  is  sacrificed  to 
feeling.  Every  man,  whatever  be  his  natuial  dis- 
position, who  would  urge  his  powers  to  the  highest 


no 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


end,  must  be  a  man  of  solitary  studies.  Some  ux- 
orious men  of  considerable  minds  have  moved  so 
much  in  the  women's  world,  that  reflection,  dis- 
quisition, and  the  energies  of  thought,  have  been 
ruined  by  the  habit  ot  indulging  the  lighter, softer, 
and  more  playful  qualities.  Such  a  man  is  indeed 
the  idol  of  the  female  world  ;  but  he  would  rather 
deserve  to  be  so,  if  he  stood  upon  his  own  ground 
while  he  attempted  to  meet  their  wants,  instead  of 
descending  to  mingle  among  them. 

God  has  put  a  difference  between  the  sexes,  but 
education  and  manners  have  put  a  still  greater. 
They  are  designed  to  move  in  separate  spheres,  but 
occasionally  to  unite  together  in  order  to  soften 
and  relieve  each  other.  To  attempt  any  subver- 
sion of  God's  design  herein,  is  being  wiser  than  He 
who  make  us ;  and  who  has  so  established  this 
affair  that  each  sex  has  its  separate  and  appropri- 
ate excellence — only  to  he  attained  by  pursuing  it 
in  the  order  of  nature.  Thought  is  or  ought  to  be 
the  characterizing  feature  of  the  man,  and  feeling 
that  of  the  woman. 

Every  man  and  woman  in  the  world  has  an  ap- 
propriate mind  ;  and  that  in  proportion  to  their 
strength  of  thought  and  feeling."  Each  has  a  way 
of  their  own — a  habit— a  system — a  world — sepa- 
rated and  solitary  in  which  no  person  on  earth  can 
have  communion  with  them.  Job  says  of  God.  He 
knoweth  the  ivay  that  I  take  ;  and,  when  the  Chris- 
tian finds  a  want  of  competency  in  his  bosom  friend 
to  understand  and  meet  his  way,  he  turns  with  an 
especial  nearness  and  familiarity  of  confidence  to 
God,  who  knoweth  it  in  all  its  connexions  and  as- 
sociations, its  peculiarities  and  its  imperfections. 

I  may  be  thought  to  speak  harshly  of  the  female 
character  ;  but  whatever  persuasion  I  have  of  its 
intended  distinction  from  that  of  man,  I  esteem  a 
woman,  who  aims  only  to  be  what  God  d  signed 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


Ill 


lier  to  be,  as  honorable  as  any  man  on  earth.  She 
stands  not  in  the  same  order  of  excellence,  but  she 
is  equally  honorable. 

But  women  have  made  themselves,  and  weak 
men  have  contributed  to  make  them,  what  God 
never  designed  them  to  be.  Let  any  thinking  man 
survey  the  female  character  as  it  now  stands— of- 
ten nervous,  debilitated,  and  imaginative,  and  this 
super-induced  chiefly  by  education  and  manners — 
and  he  will  find  it  impossible  that  any  great  vigor 
of  mind  can  be,  preserved,  or  any  high  intellectual 
pursuits  cultivated,  so  far  as  this  character  stands 
in  his  way. 

"Doing  as  others  do,"  is  the  prevalent  princi- 
ple of  the  present  female  character,  to  whatever 
absurd,  preposterous,  masculine,  or  even  wicked 
lengths  it  may  lead  This  is  so  far  as  it  avails  with 
man  or  woman,  the  ruin,  death,  and  grave  of  all 
that  is  noble,  and  virtuous  and  praise-worthy. 

A  studious  man,  whose  time  is  chiefly  spent  at 
home,  and  especially  a  minister,  ought  not  to  have 
to  meet  the  imaginary  wants  of  his  wife.  The  dis- 
orders of  an  imaginative  mind  are  beyond  calcula- 
tion. He  is  not  worthy  the  name  of  a  husband, 
who  will  not  with  delight  nurse  his  wife,  with  all 
possible  tenderness  and  love,  through  a  real  visita- 
tion, however  long  ;  hut  he  is  ruined,  if  he  falls  up- 
on a  woman  of  a  sickly  fancy.  It  is  scarcely  to  be 
calculated  what  an  influence  the  spir.t  of  his  wife 
will  have  on  his  own,  and  on  all  his  ministerial  af- 
fairs. If  she  conies  not  up  to  the  full  standard, 
she  will  so  far  impede  him,  derange  him,  unsanc- 
tify  him. 

If  there  is  such  a  thing  as  good  in  this  world, 
it  is  in  the  ministerial  office.  The  affairs  of  this 
employment  are  the  greatest  in  the  world.  In 
prosecuting  these  with  a  right  spirit,  the  minister 
keeps  in  motion  a  vast  machine  ;  and,  such  are 


112 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL- 


the  incalculable  consequences  of  his  wife's  char- 
acter to  him,  that,  if  she  assist  him  not  in  urging 
forward  the  machine,  she  will  hang  as  a  dead 
weight  upon  its  wheels. 

A  woman  may  have  a  high  taste  :  her  natural 
temper  may  be  peevish  and  fretful :  she  may  have 
a  delicate  and  fastidious  mind  :  she  may  long  for 
every  thing  she  sees.  It  is  not  enough  that  she  is, 
in  reality,  a  pious  woman.  Her  taste,  her  mind, 
her  manners,  must  have  a  decorum  and  congruity 
to  her  husband's  office  and  situation.  She  must 
bear  to  be  crossed  in  her  wishes  for  unsuitable  ob- 
jects: he  will  say,  with  firmness,  "  This  shall  not 
be.  It  is  not  enough,  that  it  would  gratify  you  : 
it  is  wrong.  It  is  not  enough,  (fiat  it  is  not  fla- 
grantly sinful:  it  is  improper,  unsuitable  to  our 
character  and  station.*  It  is  not  enough  that 
money  will  buy  it,  and  I  have  cot  money :  it 
would  be  a  culpable  use  of  our  talent.  It  is  not 
enough  that  your  friend  possesses  such  a  thing: 
we  stand  and  fall  to  our  own  Master." 


On  Visiting  Death-beds. 

I  have  found  it,  in  many  cases,  a  difficult  tiling 
to  deal  with  a  Death-Bed.  We  are  called  in  to 
death-beds  of  various  kinds: — 

The  true  pilgrim  sends  for  us  to  set  before  him 
the  food  on  which  he  has  fed  throughout  his 
journey.  He  has  a  keen  appetite.  He  wants 
strength  and  vigor  for  the  last  effort ;  and,  then, 
all  is  forever  well!  He  is  gone  home,  and  is  at 
rest ! 

Another  man  sends  for  us  because  it  is  decent; 
or  his  friends  importune  him  ;  or  his  conscience  is 


*  Nec,  tibi  quid  liceat,  sed  quid  fecisae  decebit, 
Occurrat.  Claudian.    J.  P. 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


113 


alarmed  :  but  he  is  ignorant  of  sin  and  of  salvation  : 
he  is  either  indifferent  about  both,  or  he  has  made 
up  his  mind  in  his  own  way:  he  wants  the  minis- 
ter to  confirm  him  in  his  own  views,  and  smooth 
over  the  wound.  I  have  seen  such  men  mad  with 
rage,  while  I  have  been  beating  down  their  refuges 
of  lies,  and  setting  forth  to  them  God's  refuge. 
There  is  a  wise  and  holy  medium  to  be  observed 
in  treating  such  cases; — "I  am  not  come  to  daub 
you  over  with  untempered  mortar :  I  am  not  come 
to  send  you  to  the  bar  of  God  with  a  lie  in  your 
right-hand.  But  neither  am  I  come  to  mortify 
you,  to  |)iit  you  to  unnecessary  pain,  to  imbitter 
you,  or  to  exasperate  you."  There  is  a  kindness, 
affection,  tenderness,  meekness,  and  patience, 
which  a  man's  feelings  and  conscience  will  con- 
demn him  while  be  opposes!  I  have  found  it  a 
very  effectual  method  to  begin  with  myself:  it 
awakens  attention,  conciliates  the  mind,  and  insin- 
uates conviction:  "Whatever  others  think  of 

themselves,  I  stand  condemned  before  God  :  my 
heart  is  so  desperately  wicked,  that,  if  God  had  not 
showed  me  in  bis  word  a  remedy  in  Jesus  Christ, 
I  should  be  in  despair:  I  can  only  tell  you  what 
I  am,  and  what  1  have  found.  If  you  believe 
yourselves  to  be  what  God  has  told  me  I  am  and 
all  men  are,  then  I  can  tell  you  where  and  how 
to  find  mercy  and  eternal  life  :  if  you  will  not 
believe  that  you  are  this  sort  of  man,  1  have  noth- 
ing to  offer  you.  I  know  of  nothing  else  for  man 
beside  that  which  God  has  showed  me."  My  des- 
criptions of  my  own  fallen  nature  have  excited 
perfect  astonishment:  sometimes  my  patients  have 
seemed  scarcely  able  to  credit  me,  but  I  have 
found  that  God  has  fastened,  by  this  means,  con- 
viction on  the  conscience.  In  some  cases  an  in- 
direct method  of  addressing  the  conscience  may 
.apparently  be^  in  truth,  the  most  direct;  but  we 


114 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


are  to  use  this  method  wisely  and  sparingly.  It 
seems  to  me  to  be  one  of  the  characteristics  of 
the  day,  in  the  religious  world,  to  err  on  this 
subject.  We  have  found  out  a  circoitocs  way 
of  exhibiting  truth.  The  plain,  direct,  simple  ex- 
hibition of  it  is  often  abandoned,  even  where  no 
circumstances  justify  and  require  a  more  insinu- 
ating manner.  There  is  dexterity  indeed,  and  ad- 
dress in  this;  but  too  little  of  the  simple  decla- 
ration of  the  testimony  of  God,  which  St.  Paul 
opposes  to  excellency  of  speech  or  of  wisdom,  and  to 
enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom.  We  have  done 
very  little  when  we  have  merely  persuaded  meu 
to  think  as  we  do. 

But  we  have  to  deal  with  a  worse  death-bed 
character,  than  with  the  man  who  opposes  the 
truth.  Some  men  assent  to  every  thing",'  which 
we  propose.  They  will  even  anticipate  us.  And 
yet  we  see  that  they  mean  nothing.  I  have  often 
felt  when  with  such  persons  :  "1  would  they  could 
be  brought  to  contradict  and  oppose!  That  would 
lead  to  discussion.  God  might,  peradventure, 
clash  the  stony  heart  in  pieces.  But  this  heart  is 
like  water.  The  impression  dies  as  fast  as  it  is 
made."  I  have  sought  for  such  views  as  might 
rouse  and  stir  up  opposition.  I  have  tried  to  irri- 
tate the  torpid  mind.  But  all  in  vain.  1  once 
visited  a  young  clergyman  of  this  character,  who 
was  seized  with  a  dangerous  illness  at  a  coffee- 
house in  town,  whither  some  business  had  brought 
him  :  the  first  time  I  saw  him,  we  conversed  very 
closely  together;  and,  in  the  prospect  of  death,  he 
seemed  solicitous  to  prepare  for  it.  But  I  could 
make  no  sort  of  impression  upon  him  :  all  I  could 
possibly  say  met  his  entire  approbation,  though  I 
saw  his  heart  felt  no  interest  in  it.  When  1  visited 
him  a  second  time,  the  fear  of  death  was  gone : 
aud,  with  it,  all  solicitude  about  religion.    He  was 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIt. 


115 


still  civil  and  grateful,  but  he  tried  to  parry  off  the 
business  on  which  he  knew  I  came.  "  I  will  show 
you,  Sir,  some  little  things  with  which  I  have  worn 
away  the  hours  of  my  confinement  and  soli- 
tude'" He  brought  out  a  quantity  of  pretty  and 
tasty  drawings.  I  was  at  a  loss  how  to  express, 
with  suitable  force  and  delicacy,  the  high  sense  I 
felt  of  his  indecorum  and  insipidity,  and  to  leave 
a  deep  impression  on  his  conscience — 1  rose,  how- 
ever, instantly — said  my  lime  was  expired — wished 
him  well,  and  withdrew. 

Sometimes  we  have  a  painful  part  to  act  with 
sincere  men,  who  would  have  been  carried  too 
much  into  the  world.  I  was  railed  in  to  visit 
such  a  man.  "  I  find  no  comfort,"  he  said.  "God 
veils  his  face  from  me.  Every  thing  round  me  is 
dark  and  uncertain.  I  did  not  dare  to  act  the 
flatterer.  I  said — "  Let  us  look  faithfully  into  the 
state  of  things.  I  should  have  been  surprised  if 
you  had  not  felt  thus.  I  believe  you  to  be  sincere. 
Your  state  of  feelings  evinces  your  sincerity.  Had 
1  found  you  exidting  in  God,  I  should  have  con- 
cluded that  you  were  either  deceived  or  a  de- 
ceiver: for,  while  God  acts  in  his  usual  order, 
how  could  you  expect  to  feel  otherwise  on  the 
approach  of  death,  than  you  do  feel  ?  You  have 
driven  hard  after  the  world.  Your  spirit  has 
been  absorbed  in  its  cares.  Your  sentiment — your 
conversation  have  been  in  the  spirit  of  the  world. 
And  have  you  any  reason  to  expect  the  response 
of  conscience,  and  the  clear  evidence  which  await 
the  man  who  has  walked  and  lived  in  the  close 
friendship  with  God  !  You  know  that  what  I  say 
is  true."  His  wife  interrupted  me,  by  assuring  me 
that  he  had  been  an  excellent  man.  "Silence!" 
said  the  dying  penitent,  "  it  is  all  true  !" 

Soon  after  I  came  to  St.  John's  I  was  called 
on  to  visit  a  dying  lady,  whom  I  saw  many  times 


116 


REMAINS   OF  MR.  CECIL. 


before  her  death.  I  found  that  she  had  taken 
God  for  her  portion  and  rest.  She  approached 
him  with  the  penitence  of  a  sinner  grateful  for 
his  provision  of  mercy  in  Christ.  She  told  me  she 
had  found  religion  in  her  Common  Prayer  Book. 
She  blessed  God  that  she  had  "always  been  kept 
steady  to  her  church  ;  and  that  she  had  never  fol- 
lowed the  people  called  Methodists,  who  were  se- 
ducing so  many  on  all  sides."  I  thought  it  would 
be  unadviseahle  to  attempt  the  removal  of  preju- 
dices, which,  in  her  dying  case,  were  harmless, 
and  which  would  soon  he  removed  by  the  light 
which  would  beam  in  on  her  glorified  soul.  We 
had  more  interesting  subjects  of  conversation, 
from  which  this  would  have  led  us  away.  Some 
persons  may  tax  her  with  a  want  of  charily:  but, 
alas  !  1  fear  they  are  persons,  who,  knowing  more 
than  she  did  of  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  have 
so  little  of  its  divine  charity  in  their  hearts,  that, 
as  they  cannot  allow  for  her  prejudices,  neither 
would  they  have  been  the  last  to  stigmatize  her 
as  a  dead  formalist  and  a  phaiisee.  God  knoweth 
them  that  are  his;  and  they  are  often  seen  by  him, 
where  we  see  them  not.  Were  a  benighted  inhab- 
itant ofOtaheite  to  feel  the  wretchness  of  his  pres- 
ent life,  and  lift  up  his  soul  to  the  God  he  wor- 
shipped as  a  Supreme  Being  for  happiness,  no 
doubt  God  would  hear  such  a  prayer. 


Miscellaneous  Remarks  on  the  Christian  .Ministry. 

Every  book  really  worth  a  minister's  studying 
he  ought,  if  possible,  to  have  in  his  own  library. 
I  have  used  large  libraries,  but  I  soon  left  them. 
Time  was  frittered  away:  my  mind  was  uncon- 
centrated.  Besides,  the  habit  which  it  begets  of 
turning  over  a  multitude  of  books  is  a  pernicious 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


117 


habit.  And  the  usual  contents  of  such  libraries 
are  injurious  to  a  spiritual  man,  whose  business  it 
is  to  transact  with  men's  minds.  They  have  a 
dry,  cold,  deadening  effect.  It  may  suit  dead  men 
to  walk  among  the  dead  ;  but  send  not  a  living 
man  to  be  chilled  among  the  ruins  of  Tadmor  in 
the  wilderness! 

Christianity  is  so  great  and  surprising  in  its 
nature,  that,  in  preaching  it  to  others,  I  have  no 
encouragement  but  the  belief  of  a  continued  divine 
operation.  It  is  no  difficult  thing  to  change  a 
man's  opinions.  It  is  no  difficult  thing  to  attach 
a  man  to  my  person  and  notions.  It  is  no  diffi- 
cult thing  to  convert  a  proud  man  to  spiritual 
pride,  or  a  passionate  man  to  passionate  zeal  for 
some  religious  party.  But,  to  bring  a  man  to  love 
God — to  love  the  law  of  God,  while  it  condemns 
him — to  loath  himself  before  God — to  tread  the 
earth  under  his  feet — to  hunger  and  thirst  after 
God  in  Christ,  and  after  the  mind  that  was  in 
Christ — with  man  this  is  impossible!  But  God  has 
said  it  shall  he  done:  and  bills  me  go  forth  and 
preach,  that  by  me  as  his  instrument,  lie  may 
effect  these  great  ends;  and  therefore  1  go. — Yet 
I  am  obliged  continually  to  call  my  mind  back  to 
my  principles.  1  feel  angry,  perhaps,  with  a  man, 
because  he  will  not  let  me  convert  him  :  in  spite 
of  all  I  can  say,  he  will  still  love  the  world. 

St.  Paul  admonishes  Timothy  to  endure  hard- 
ness as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.  It  sometimes 
falls  to  the  lot  of  a  minister  to  endure  the  hard 
labor  of  a  nurse,  in  a  greater  measure  than  that  of 
a  soldier.  He  has  to  encounter  the  difficulties  of 
a  peculiar  situation  :  he  is  the  parent  of  a  family 
of  children,  of  various  tempers,  manners,  habits, 
and  prejudices:  if  he  does  not  continually  mortify 


lis 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


himself,  lie  will  bear  hardly  upon  some  of  his  chil- 
dren.— He  has,  however,  to  endure  the  hardness 
of  calling  his  child,  his  friend,  to  an  account; 
of  being  thought  a  severe,  jealous,  legal  man.  If 
a  man  will  let  matters  take  their  chance,  he  may 
Jive  smoothly  and  quietly  enough  ;  but  if  he  will 
stir  among  the  servants,  and  sift  things  to  the  bot- 
tom, he  must  bear  the  consequences.  He  must 
account  himself  o  Man  of  Strife.  His  language 
must  be — "It  is  not  enough  that  you  feed  me,  or 
fill  my  pocket — there  is  something  between  me 
and  thee."  The  most  tender  and  delicate  of  his 
flock  have  their  failings.  His  warmest  and  most 
zealous  supporters  break  down  some  where.  A 
sun-shiny  day  breeds  most  reptiles.  It  is  not 
enough,  therefore,  that  the  sun  shines  out  in  his 
church.  It  is  not  enough  that  numbers  shout 
applause. 

A  minister  may  be  placed  in  a  discouraging 
situation.  He  may  not  suit  the  popular  taste. 
He  may  not  he  able  to  fall  into  the  fashionable 
style.  He  may  not  play  icell  on  an  instrument. 
Though  an  effective  man,  and  a  man  of  energy, 
he  may  be  under  a  cloud.  The  door  may  be  shut 
against  him.  Yet  it  is  a  dangerous  thing  for  such 
a  man  to  force  open  the  door.  He  should  rather 
say — "I  have  a  lesson  to  learn  here.  If  I  teach 
the  people  nothing,  perhaps  they  may  teach  me." 
The  work  of  winter  is  to  be  done,  as  well  as  the 
work  of  summer. 

The  hardness  which  I  have  to  endure  is  this 
— Here  are  a  number  of  families,  which  show  me 
every  kind  of  regard.  But  I  see  that  they  are 
not  right.  They  somehow  so  combine  the  things 
which  they  hear,  with  the  things  which  they  do, 
that  I  am  afraid  they  will  at  last  lie  down  in  sor- 
roio .'  Here  is  my  difficulty.  I  must  meet  them 
with  gentleness;  but  I  must  detect  and  uncover 


REMAINS   OF   NR.  CECIL. 


119 


the  evil.  I  shall  want  real  kindness  and  common 
honesty,  if  I  do  not.  Ephraim  hath  grey  hairs  ; 
yet  he  icnoweth  it  not.  Ephraim  is  a  cake  not  turned. 
But,  if  I  tell  him  these  things,  he  and  I  shall  he- 
come  two  persons.  He  must,  however,  he  so 
touched  in  private  ;  for  he  will  not  be  touched  in 
the  pulpit.    He  will  say,  I  am  not  the  man." 

A  minister  must  keep  under  his  body  and  bring 
it  into  subjection.  A  Newmarket  groom  will  sweat 
himself  thin,  that  he  may  befit  for  his  office:  Now 
they  do  it  to  obtain  a  corruptible  crown ;  but  toe,  an 
incorruptible  ! 

  is  come  from  college.    He  has  a  refined, 

accurate,  sensible  mind.  Some  of  our  friends 
wished  to  get  him  a  station  at  Calcutta.  They 
think  him  just  adapted  for  that  sphere.  I  differ 
widely  in  my  view  of  the  matter.  A  new  man, 
with  his  college  accuracy  about  him,  is  not  the 
man  for  the  dissipated  and  fashionable  court  at 
Calcutta.  Such  a  congregation  will  bid  nothing 
for  his  acuteness  and  reasoning. — lie,  who  is 
to  talk  to  them  with  any  effect,  must  have  seen 
life  and  the  world.  He  must  be  able  to  treat  with 
them  on  their  own  ground.  And  he  must  be  able 
to  do  it  with  the  authority  of  a  messenger  from 
God,  not  with  the  arts  and  shifts  of  human  elo- 
quence and  reasonings.  Dr.  Patten  said  admira- 
bly well,  in  a  sermon  which  I  heard  him  preach 
at  Oxford:  "Beware  how  you  suffer  the  infidel  to 
draw  you  upon  metaphysical  ground.  If  he  get 
you  there,  he  will  have  something  to  say.  The 
evidences  and  the  declarations  of  God's  word  are 
the  weapon  with  which  he  must  be  combatted, 
and  before  which  he  must  fall." 

London  is  very  peculiar  as  a  ministerial  walk. 


120 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


Almost  all  a  minister  can  do,  is  by  the  pulpit 
and  the  pen.  His  hearers  are  so  occupied  in  the 
world,  that  if  he  visit  them,  every  minute  perhaps 
brings  in  some  interruption. 

It  is  a  serious  question  —  Whether  a  minister 
ought  to  preach  at  all  beyond  his  experience. — He  is 
to  stand  forth  as  a  witness — but  a  witness  of 
what  he  knows,  not  of  what  he  has  been  told. 
He  must  preach  as  he  feels.  If  he  fuels  not  as  he 
might  and  ought,  he  must  pray  for  such  feelings  : 
but,  till  he  has  them,  ought  he  pretend  to  them.- 
Going  faster  than  the  experience  led,  has  been 
the  bane  ol  many.  Men  have  preached  in  cer- 
tain terms  and  phrases  according  to  the  tone 
given  by  others,  While  the  thing  has  never  beer 
made  out  even  to  their  conviction,  much  less  in 
their  experience. 

It  is  a  most  important  point  of  duty,  in  a  min- 
ister to  redeem  time.  A  young  minister  has 
sometimes  called  an  old  one  out  of  his  study,  only 
to  ask  him  how  he  did  :  there  is  a  tone  to  be  ob- 
served toward  such  an  idler:  an  intimation  may 
be  given,  which  he  will  understand,  "This  is  not 
the  house!"  In  order  to  redeem  lime,  he  must 
refuse  to  engage  in  secular  affairs  :  .Vo  man,  that 
icarreth,  entangleth  himself  with  the  affairs  of  this 
life,  that  he  may  please  Him  who  hath  chosen  him 
to  be  a  soldier.  He  must  watch,  too,  against  a 
dozing  away  of  time  :  the  clock- weight  goes  down 
slowly,  yet  it  draws  all  the  works  with  it. 

Owen  remarks  that  it  is  not  sufficiently  consid- 
ered how  much  a  minister's  personal  religion  is 
exposed  to  danger,  from  the  very  circumstance  of 
religion  being  his  profession  and  employment. 
He  must  go  through  the  acts  of  religion  :  he  must 
put  on  the  appearances  of  religion  :  he  must  utter 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


121 


the  language  r.nd  display  the  feelings  of  religion. 
It  requires  double  diligence  and  vigilance  to  main- 
tain, under  such  circumstances,  the  spirit  of  relig- 
ion. I  have  prayed  :  I  have  talked  :  I  have 
preached:  but  now  I  should  perish,  after, all,  if  I 
did  not  feed  on  the  bread  which  I  have  broken  to 
others. 

A  MINISTER  mUSt  CULTIVATE  A  TENDER  SPIRIT. 

If  he  does  this  so  as  to  carry  a  savor  and  unc- 
tion into  his  work,  he  will  have  far  more  weight 
than  other  men.  This  is  the  result  of  a  devotional 
habit.  To  affect  feeling  is  nauseous  and  soon  de- 
tected ;  but  to  feel,  is  the  readiest  way  to  the 
hearts  of  others. 

The  leading  defect  in  Christian  ministers  is 
want  of  a  devotional  habit.  The  church  of 
Rome  made  much  of  this  habit.  The  contests 
accompanying  and  following  the  Reformation, 
with  something  of  an  indiscriminate  enmity  against 
some  of  the  good  of  that  church  as  well  as  the 
evil,  combined  to  repress  this  spirit  in  the  Protes- 
tant writings;  whereas  the  mind  of  Christ  seems, 
in  fact,  to  be  the  grand  end  of  Christianity  in  its 
operation  upon  man. 

There  is  a  manifest  want  of  spiritual  influence 
on  the  ministry  of  the  present  day.  I  feel  it  in 
my  own  case,  and  I  see  it  in  that  of  others.  I  am 
afraid  that  there  is  too  much  of  a  low,  managing, 
contriving,  maneuvering  temper  of  mind  among 
us.  VVe  are  laying  ourselves  out,  more  than  is 
expedient,  to  meet  one  man's  taste,  and  another 
man's  prejudices.  The  ministry  is  a  grand  and 
holy  affair,  and  it  should  find  in  us  a  simple  habit 
of  spirit,  and  a  holy  but  humble  indifference  to  all 
consequences. 


122 


REMAINS   Or  MR.  CECIL. 


A  man  of  the  world  will  bear  to  henr  me  read 
in  the  desk  that  awful  passage:  Wide  is  the  gate, 
and  broad  is  the  way  that  leadeth  to  destruction  ;  and 
many  there  be  which  go  in  thereat:  Because  strait  is 
the  gate,  and  narrow  is  the  way  which  leadeth  unto 
life  ;  and  few  there  be  that  find  it.  Nay,  he  will 
approve  it: — "  The  minister  is  in  the  desk  :  he  is 
reading  the  lesson  of  the  day."  But  this  very 
man — were  I  to  go  home  with  him,  and  tell  him 
in  his  parlour  that  most  of  those  whom  he  knows 
and  loves  are  going  on  in  that  road  to  eternal  des- 
truction— this  very  man  would  lira  ml  the  senti- 
ment as  harsh  and  uncharitable.  Though  uttered 
by  Christ  himself,  it  is  a  declaration  as  fanatical 
and  uncandid,  in  the  judgment  of  the  world,  as 
could  be  put  together  in  language. 

Many  hearers  cannot  enter  into  the  reasons  of 
the  Cross.  They  adopt  what  1  think  is  Butler's 
grand  defect  on  this  subject.  He  speaks  of  the 
Cross  as  an  appointment  of  God,  and  therefore 
to  be  submitted  to  :  but  God  has  said  much  in  bis 
word  of  the  reasons  of  this  appointment  :  that  fie 
might  be  just,  and  the  justifier  of  him  that  beliereth. 

Several  things  are  required,  to  enable  a  min- 
ister to  attain  a  proper  variety  in  his  manner. 
He  must  be  in  continual  practice:  if  I  were  to 
preach  but  once  a  month,  I  should  lose  the  ability 
of  preaching.  He  must  know  that  bis  hearers  are 
attached  to  him — that  they  will  grant  him  indul- 
gences and  liberties.  He  must,  in  some  measure, 
feel  himself  above  bis  congregation.  The  presence 
of  a  certain  brother  chills  me  ;  because  I  feel  that 
I  can  talk  on  no  one  subject  in  the  pulpit,  with 
which  he  is  not  far  better  acquainted  than  I  am. 

The  first  duty  of  a  minister,  is,  To  call  on  his 


REMAINS  OF   MR.  CECIL. 


123 


hearers  to  turn  to  the  Lord.  "  We  have  much  to 
speak  to  you  upon.  We  have  many  duties  to  urge 
ou  you.  We  have  much  instruction  to  give  you — 
but  all  will  he  thrown  away,  till  you  have  turned 
to  the  Lord."  Let  me  illustrate  this  by  a  familiar 
comparison.  You  see  your  child  sinking  in  the 
water:  his  education  lies  near  your  heart:  you 
are  anxious  to  train  him  up  so,  that  he  may  oc- 
cupy well  the  post  assigned  to  him  in  life.  But, 
when  you  see  him  drowning,  the  first  thoughts 
are — not  how  you  may  educate  him,  but  how  you 
may  save  him.  Restore  him  to  lifj,  and  then  call 
that  life  into  action. 

A  disinterested  regard  to  truth  should  be, 
what  it  very  seldom  is,  the  most  striking  char- 
acter in  a  Christian  minister.  His  purpose  should 
be  to  make  proselytes  to  truth,  and  not  to  any 
thing  which  may  he  particular  in  his  views  of 
it.  "  Read  my  books,"  says  one. — "  No  !"  says 
another,  "read  mine."  And  thus  religion  is  taken 
up  by  piece-meal ;  and  the  mind  is  diverted  from 
its  true  nature  by  false  associations.  If  the  teach- 
er whom  this  man  has  chosen  for  his  oracle,  dis- 
grace religion  by  irreligious  conduct,  he  stumbles. 
He  stumbles,  because  he  has  not  been  fixed  upon 
the  sole  and  immoveable  basis  of  the  religion  of  the 
Bible.  The  mind,  well  instructed  in  the  Scrip- 
tures, can  bear  to  see  even  its  spiritual  father 
make  shipwreck  of  the  faith  and  scandalize  the 
gospel ;  but  will  remain  itself  unmoved.  The  man 
is  in  possession  of  a  treasure,  which,  if  others  are 
foolish  enough  to  abandon,  yet  they  cannot  de- 
tract any  thing  from  the  value  attached  to  it  in 
his  esteem. 

That  a  minister  may  learn  how  to  magnify  his 
office,  let  him  study  the  character,  the  spirit,  and 


124 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


the  history  of  St.  Paul.  His  life  and  death  were 
one  magnifying  of  his  office:  mark  bis  object — to 
win  souls  ! — to  execute  the  will  of  God !  As  the 
man  rises  in  his  own  esteem,  his  office  sinks  ;  but, 
as  the  office  rises  in  his  view,  the  man  falls.  He 
must  be  in  constant  hostility  with  himself,  if  he 
would  magnify  his  office.  He  must  hold  himself 
in  readiness  to  make  sacrifices,  when  called  to  do 
so  :  he  will  not  barter  his  office,  like  Balaam  ;  but 
will  refuse  to  sell  his  service,  like  Hicaiab.  Like 
Ezra  and  Nehemiah,  he  will  refuse  to  come  down 
from  the  great  work  which  he  has  to  do.  He 
may  be  calumniated  ;  but  he  will  avoid  hasty  vin- 
dications of  his  character:  it  does  not  appear  that 
Elisha  sent  after  Naaman  to  vindicate  himself 
from  the  falsehoods  of  Gehazi:  there  appears  to 
me.much  true  dignity  in  this  conduct:  I  fear  1 
should  have  wanted  patience  to  act  thus. 

Some  young  ministers  have  been  greatly  injured, 
by  taking  up  their  creed  from  a  sort  of  second  or 
third  rate  writers.  Toplady,  perhaps,  has  said 
that  he  has  found  his  preaching  most  successful, 
when  it  has  turned  on  the  grand  doctrines  of  Cal- 
vinism. A  young  man  admires  Toplady,  and 
adopts  the  same  notion  concerning  his  own  min- 
istry. But  let  him  turn  to  a  master  on  the  subject. 
He  will  find  such  a  man  as  Traill  handling  the 
sovereignty  of  God,  and  such  high  points  of  doc- 
trine wish  a  holy  and  heavenly  sweetness ;  which, 
while  it  renders  it  almost  impossible  not  to  re- 
ceive his  sentiments,  leaves  nothing  on  the  mind 
but  a  religious  savor. 

The  grand  aim  of  a  minister  must  be  the  exhi- 
bition of  gospel  truth.  Statesmen  may  make 
the  greatest  blunders  in  the  world,  but  that  is  not 
His  affair.    Like  a  King's  messenger,  he  must  not 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


125 


stop  to  take  care  of  a  person  fallen  down  :  if  he 
can  render  any  kindness  consistently  with  his 
duty,  lie  will  do  it ;  if  not,  he  will  prefer  his  office. 

Our  method  of  preaching  is  not  that  hy  which 
Christianity  was  propagated:  yet  the  genius  of 
Christianity  is  not  changed.  There  was  nothing 
in  the  primitive  method  set  or  formal.  The  primi- 
tive bishop  stood  up,  and  read  the  gospel,  or  some 
other  portion  of  Scripture,  and  pressed  on  the 
hearers,  with  great  earnestness  and  affection,  a 
few  plain  and  forcible  truths  evidently  resulting 
from  that  portion  of  the  Divine  Word:  we  take  a 
text,  and  make  an  oration.  Edification  was  then 
the  object  of  both  speaker  and  hearers ;  and, 
while  this  continues  to  be  the  object,  no  better 
method  can  be  found.  A  parable,  or  history,  or 
passage  of  Scripture,  thus  illustrated  and  enforced, 
is  the  best  method  of  introducing  truth  to  any 
people  who  are  ignorant  of  it,  ami  of  setting  it 
home  with  power  on  those  who  know  it ;  and 
not  formal,  doctrinal,  argumentative  discourses. 
Truth  and  simplicity  are  the  soul  of  an  effica- 
cious ministry. 

The  Puritans  were  still  farther  removed  from 
the  primitive  method  of  preaching :  they  would 
preach  fifteen  or  sixteen  sermons  on  a  text.  A 
primitive  bishop  would  have  been  shocked  with 
one  of"  our  sermons;  and,  such  is  our  taste,  we 
should  he  shocked  with  his.  They  brought  for- 
ward Scripture:  we  bring  forward  our  statements. 
They  directed  all  their  observations  to  throw  light 
on  Scripture:  we  tpjote  Scripture  to  throw  light 
on  our  observations.  More  faith  and  more  grace 
would  make  us  better  preachers,  for  out  of  the 
abundance  of  the  heart  the  mouth  speaketh.  Chrys- 
ostom's  was  the  right  method.  Leighton's  Lec- 
tures on  Peter  approach  very  neur  to  this  method. 


136 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


In  acting  on  matter,  the  art  of  man  is  mighty. 
The  steam-engine  is  a  mighty  machine.  But,  in 
religion,  the  art  of  man  is  mere  feebleness.  The 
armor  of  Saul  is  armor  in  the  camp  of  the  Is- 
raelites, or  in  the  camp  of  the  Philistines — but  we 
want  the  sling  and  the  stone.  I  honor  Metaphy- 
sicians, Logicians,  Critics,  and  Historians — in  their 
places.  Look  at  facts.  Men,  who  lay  out  their 
strength  in  statements,  preach  churches  empty. 
Few  men  have  a  wisdom  so  large,  as  to  see  that 
the  way  which  they  cannot  attain  may  yet  be  the 
best  way.  I  dare  not  tell  most  academical,  logi- 
cal, frigid  men  how  little  I  account  of  their  opin- 
ion, concerning  the  true  method  of  preaching  to 
the  popular  ear.  I  hear  them  talk,  as  utterly  in- 
competent judges.  Such  men  would  have  said 
St.  Paul  was  fit  only  for  the  tabernacle.  What 
he  would  have  said  they  were  fit  for,  I  cannot  tell. 
They  are  often  great  men — first-rate  men — un- 
equalled men — in  their  class  and  sphere:  but  it  is 
not  their  sphere  to  manage  the  world. 

Ik  a  minister  could  work  miracles,  he  would  do 

little  more  than  interest  the  curiosity  of  men  

"  I  want  to  eat,  and  I  want  to  drink,  and  I  do  it,  I 
get  on  with  difficulty  enough,  as  things  are;  and 
you  talk  about  treating  with  heaven  !  I  know  noth- 
ing of  the  matter,  and  1  want  no  such  thing" — This 
is  the  language  of  man's  heart.  A  future  thing! 
An  indefinitely  future  thing!  No!  if  a  man 
could  even  authoritatively  declare,  that  the  day  of 
judgment  would  be  this  day  seven  years,  he  would 
have  little  influence  on  mankind.  Very  few  would 
be  driven  from  the  play-house — very  few  from  the 
gaming  table — very  few  from  the  brothel. — The 
din  on  'Change  would  be  very  little  diminished.  I 
frequently  look  back  on  the  early  periods  of  my 
life,  and  imagine  myself  treating  with  such  a  char- 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


127 


ncter  as  I  know  I  then  was.  I  say  to  myself, 
"  What  now  can  1  possibly  say,  that  will  affect  and 
interest  that  young  fellow  of  eighteen  ?" 

P  Some  Christian  ministers  fail  in  their  effect  on 
their  hearers,  by  not  entering  as  philosophers  into 
the  state  of  human  nature.  They  do  not  consider 
how  low  the  patient  is  reduced — that  he  is  to  be 
treated  more  as  a  child — that  he  is  to  have  milk  ad- 
ministered to  him,  instead  of  strong  meat.  They 
set  themselves  to  plant  principles  and  prove  points, 
when  they  should  labor  to  interest  the  heart.  But, 
after  all,  men  will  carry  their  natural  character  into 
their  ministry.  Ifa  man  has  a  dry,  logical,  scholastic 
turn  of  mind,  we  shall  rarely  find  him  an  interest- 
ing preacher.  One  in  a  thousand  may  meet  him, 
but  not  more. 

The  Christian  will  sometimes  be  brought  to  walk 
in  a  solitary  path.  God  seems  to  cut  away  his 
props,  that  he  may  reduce  him  to  himself.  His  reli- 
gion is  to  be  felt  as  a  personal,  particular,  appro- 
priate possession.  He  is  to  feel,  that,  as  there  is 
but  one  Jehovah  to  bless,  so  there  seems  to  him  as 
though  there  were  but  one  penitent  in  the  uni- 
verse to  be  blessed  by  Dim.  Mary  Magdalene  at 
the  sepulchre  was  brought  to  this  state.  She 
might  have  said,  "  I  know  not  where  Peter  is  :  he 
is  gone  away — perhaps  into  the  world — perhapsto 
weep  over  his  fall.  I  know  not  where  John  is. 
What  are  the  feelings  and  states  of  my  brethren,  I 
know  not.  I  am  left  here  alone.  No  one  accompa- 
nies and  strengthens  me.  But  if  none  other  will 
seek  my  Lord,  yet  will  I  seek  him !"  There  is  a 
commanding  energy  in  religious  sympathy.  A 
minister,  for  example,  while  his  preaching  seems 
effective,  and  life  and  feeling  show  themselves 
around  him,  moves  on  with  ease  and  pleasure-  But 


12S 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


there  is  much  of  the  man  here.  If  Goil  change 
the  scene — if  discouragements  meet  him — if  ho 
seem  to  be  kid  by,  in  any  measure,  as  an 
instrument — if  the  love  of  his  hearers  to  his 
person  and  ministry  decay — this  is  a  severe 
trial :  yet  most  of  us  need  this  trial,  that  we  may 
be  reduced  simply  to  God,  and  may  feel  that  the 
whole  affair  is  between  him  and  ourselves.  A 
dead  fisli  will  swim  with  the  stream,  whatever  be 
its  direction  :  But  a  living  one  will  not  only  resist  the 
stream:  but,  if  it  chooses,  it  can  swim  against  it. 
The  soul  that  lives  from  God,  will  seek  God,  and 
follow  God — more  easily  and  pleasantly,  indeed, 
if  the  stream  flow  toward  the  point  whit  her  God 
leads;  but  still,  it  will  follow  God  as  its  sole  rest 
and  centre,  though  the  stream  of  men  and  opinions 
would  hurry  it  away  from  him. 

Gravity  is,  doubtless,  obligatory  on  ministers. 
The  apostle  connects  it  with  simplicity.  Yet 
it  must  be  natural — not  affected.  Some  men  give 
every  thing  in  an  oracular  sty  le  :  this  lookslike  af- 
fectation, and  will  disgust  others:  they  will  at- 
tribute it  to  religion  :  but  this  not  a  sanctified  grav- 
ity. Other  men  are  always  disposed  to  levity:  not 
that  a  man  of  original  fancy  is  to  be  condemned, 
for  thinking  in  his  own  way  :  but  the  minister  must 
consider  that  be  is  a  man  of  a  consecrated  charac- 
ter:  if  it  should  not  be  difficult  to  himself  to  make 
transitions  from  levity  to  gravity,  it  will  be  difficult  to 
carry  others  with  him  therein.  Who  has  not  felt, 
if  God  brings  him  into  a  trying  situation,  in  which  he 
sees  that  it  is  an  awful  thing  to  suffer  or  to  die,  that 
gravity  is  then  natural  ?  every  thing  else  is  offen- 
sive !  That,  too,  is  evil,  which  lets  down  the  tone 
of  a  company  :  when  a  minister  loses  his  gravity, 
the  company  will  take  liberties  with  him.  Yet, 
with  a  right  principle,  we  must  not  play  the  fool. 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


123 


Gravity  must  be  natural  and  simple.  There  must 
be  urbanity  and  tenderness  in  it.  A  man  must  not 
formalize  on  every  thing.  He,  who  formalizes  on 
every  thing,  is  a  fool :  and  a  grave  fool  is  perhaps 
more  injurious  than  a  light  fool. 

We  are  called  to  build  a  spiritual  house.  One 
woikman  is  not  to  busy  himself  in  telling  another 
bis  duty.  We  are  placed  in  different  circumstan- 
ces, with  various  talents  :  and  each  is  called  to  do 
what  he  can.  Two  men,  equally  accepted  of  God, 
may  be  exceedingly  distinct  in  the  account  which 
they  will  give  of  their  employ. 

A  regular  clergyman  can  do  no  more  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duty,  than  our  church  requires  of 
him.  He  may  full  far  short  of  her  requirements  ; 
but  he  cannot  exceed  by  the  most  devoted  life,  the 
duties  which  he  has  prescribed.  What  man  on 
earth  is  so  pernicious  a  drone,  as  an  idle  clergy- 
man!— a  man,  engaged  in  the  most  serious  profes- 
sion in  the  world  :  who  rises  Jo  eat,  and  drink,  and 
lounge,  and  trifle  :  and  goes  to  bed  ;  and  then  rises 
again,  to  do  the  same  !  Our  office  is  the  most  la- 
borious in  the  world.  The  mind  must  be  always 
on  the  stretch,  to  acquire  wisdom  and  grace,  and 
to  communicate  them  to  all  who  come  near.  It  is 
well,  indeed,  when  a  clergyman  of  genius  and 
learning  devotes  himself  to  the  publication  of  clas- 
sics and  works  of  literature,  if  he  cannot  be  prevail- 
ed on  to  turn  his  genius  and  learning  to  a  more  im- 
portant end.  Enter  into  this  kind  of  society,  what 
do  you  hear  ? — "  Have  you  seen  the  new  edition  of 
Sophocles  ?" — "  No !  is  a  new  edition  of  Sophocles 
undertaken  ?" — and  this  makes  up  the  conversation, 
and  these  are  the  ends  of  men  who,  by  profession, 
should  win  souls!  I  received  a  most  useful  hint  from 
M 


130 


REMAINS  OF   MR.  CECIL. 


Dr.  Bacon,  then  Father  of  the  University,  when  I 
was  at  College.  I  used  frequently  to  visit  him  at  his 
Living  near  Oxford  :  he  would  say  to  me,  "  What 
are  you  doing?  What  are  your  studies  ?" — "I  am 
reading  so  and  so." — "  You  are  quite  wrong.  When 
I  was  young  I  could  turn  any  piece  of  Hebrew  into 
Greek  verse  with  ease.  But,  when  I  came  into  this 
parish,  and  had  to  teach  ignorant  people,  I  was 
wholly  at  a  loss  ;  I  bad  no  furniture.  They  thought 
me  a  great  man,  hut  that  was  their  ignorance  ;  for 
1  knew  as  little  as  they  did,  of  what  it  was  most 
important  to  them  to  know.  Study  chiefly  what 
you  can  turn  to  good  account  in  your  future  life." 
And  yet  this  wise  man  had  not  just  views  of  seri- 
ous religion  :  he  was  one  of  those  who  are  for  re- 
forming the  parish  making  the  maids  industri- 
ous, and  the  men  sober  and  honest — hut  when  I 
ventured  to  ask,  "  Sir,  must  not  all  this  he  effected 
by  the  infusion  of  a  divine  principle  into  the  mind  ? 
a  union  of  the  soul  with  the  great  head  of  influ- 
ence?"— No  more  of  that ;  no  more  of  that,  I 
pray !" 

A  wise  minister  stands  between  practical  Athe- 
ism and  religious  enthusiasm. 

A  sermon,  that  has  more  head  infused  into  it 
than  Jieart,  will  not  come  home  with  efficacy  to  the 
hearers.  "You  must  do  so  and  so:  such  and  such 
consequences  will  follow  if  you  do  not:  such  and 
such  advantages  will  result  from  doing  it:" — this 
is  cold,  dead,  and  spiritless,  when  it  stands  alone  ; 
or  even  when  it  is  most  prominent.  Let  the 
preacher's  head  be  stored  with  wisdom  ;  but,  above 
all,  let  bis  heart  so  feel  his  subject,  that  he  may  in- 
fuse life  and  interest  into  it, by  speaking  like  one  who 
actually  possesses  and  feels  what  he  says. 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


131 


Faith  is  the  master-spring  of  a  minister.  "  Hell 
is  before  me,  and  thousands  of  souls  shut  up  there 
in  everlasting  agonies — Jesus  Christ  stands  forth  to 
save  men  from  rushing  into  this  bottomless  abyss — 
He  sends  me  to  proclaim  his  ability  and  his  love  : 
I  want  no  fourth  idea! — every  fourth  idea  is  con- 
temptible!— every  fourth  idea  is  a  grand  imperti- 
nence !" 

The  meanness  of  the  earthen  vessel,  which  con- 
veys to  others  the  Gospel  treasure,  takes  nothing 
from  the  value  of  the  treasure.  A  dying  hand  may 
sign  a  deed  of  gift  of  incalculable  value.  A  shep- 
herd's boy  may  point  out  the  way  to  a  philosopher. 
A  beggar  may  be  the  bearer  of  an  invaluable  pres- 
ent. 

A  writer  of  sermons  has  often  no  idea  how 
many  words  he  uses,  to  which  the  common  people 
affix  either  no  meaning,  or  a  false  one.  He  speaks, 
perhaps,  of"  relation  to  God  ;"  but  the  people,  who 
hear  him,  affix  no  other  idea  to  the  word,  than  that 
of  father,  or  brother,  or  relative.  The  preacher 
must  converse  with  the  people,  that  he  may  acquire 
their  words  and  phrases. 

It  sometimes  pleases  God  to  disqualify  ministers 
for  their  work,  before  he  takes  them  to  their  reward. 
Where  he  gives  them  wisdom  to  perceive  this,  and 
grace  to  acquiesce  in  the  dispensation — such  a  close 
of  an  honorable  life,  where  the  desire  to  be  publicly 
useful  survives  the  power,  is  a  loud  amen  to  all 
former  labors. 


132 


REMAI.NS  OP   MR.  CECIL. 


On  Infidelity  and  Poptry. 

Infidel  writings  are  ultimately  productive  of 
little  or  no  danger  to  the  church  of  God.  Nay  we 
are  less  at  a  loss  in  judging  of  the  wisdom  of 
Providence  in  permitting  them,  than  we  are  in 
judging  of  many  other  of  its  designs.  They  may 
shake  the  simple,  humhle,  spiritual  mind  ;  hut  they 
are,  in  the  end,  the  means  of  enlightening  and 
settling  it. 

There  are  but  two  sorts  of  people  in  the  world. 
Some  walk  by  the  light  of  the  Lord,  and  all  others 
lie  in  the  wicked  one  in  darkness  and  in  the  shadow 
of  death.  Where  there  is  not  an  enlightened,  sim- 
ple, humhle,  spiritual  mind,  notions  and  opinions 
are  of  little  consequence.  The  impudent  and  re- 
futed misrepresentations  of  infidels  may  turn  a 
dark  mind  to  some  other  notions  and  way  of  think- 
ing ;  but  it  is  in  the  dark  Still.  Till  a  man  sees  by 
the  light  of  the  Lord,  every  change  of  opinions  is  on- 
ly putting  a  new  dress  on  a  dead  carcase,  and  call- 
ing it  alive. 

The  grace  of  God  must  give  simplicity.  Wherev- 
er that  is,  it  is  a  security  against  dangerous  error; 
wherever  it  is  not,  erroneous  opinions  may  per- 
haps less  predispose  the  mind  against  the  truth  of 
God  in  its  lively*  power  on  the  soul,  than  true  no- 
tions destitute  of  all  life  and  influence  do. 

Yet  the  writings  of  infidels  must  he  read  with 
caution  and  fear.  There  are  cold,  intellectual, 
speculative,  malignant  foes  to  Christianity.  I  dare 
not  tamper  with  such,  when  I  am  in  my  right  mind. 
I  have  received  serious  injury,  for  a  time,  even 
when  my  duty  has  called  me  to  read  what  they 
have  to  say.  The  daring  impiety  of  Belsham's 
answer  to  Wilberforce  ruffled  the  calm  of  my  spir- 
its. I  read  it  over  while  at  Bath,  in  the  autumn 
of  1798.    I  waked  in  pain,  about  two  o'clock  in 


REMAINS  Or  MR.  CECIL 


1:33 


the  morning.  I  tried  to  cheer  myself  by  an  exer- 
cise of  faith  on  Jesus  Christ.  I  lifted  up  my  heart 
to  him,  as  sympathizing  with  me  and  engaged  to 
support  me.  Many  times  have  I  thus  obtained 
quiet  and  repose  :  but  now  I  could  lay  no  hold  on 
him:  I  had  given  the  enemy  an  advantage  over 
me :  my  habit  had  imbibed  poison :  my  nerves 
trembled  !  my  strength  was  gone  ! — "Jesus  Christ 
sympathize  with  you,  and  relieve  you  !  It  is  all  en- 
thusiasm !  It  is  idolatry  !  Jesus  Christ  has  preached 
his  sermons,  and  done  his  duty,  and  is  gone  to 
heaven  !  And  there  he  is,  as  other  good  men  are! 
Address  your  prayers  to  the  Supreme  Being  !" — 
I  obtain  relief  in  such  cases,  by  dismissing  from  my 
thoughts  all  that  enemies  or  friends  can  say.  1 
will  have  nothing  to  do  with  Belsham  or  with  Wil- 
berforce.  I  come  to  Christ  himself.  I  hear  what 
he  says.  I  turn  over  the  gospels.  I  read  his  con- 
versations. I  dwell  especially  on  bis  farewell  dis- 
course with  his  disciples  in  St.  John's  gospel.  If 
there  he  meaning  in  words,  and  if  Christ  were  not 
a  deceiver  or  deceived,  the  reality  of  the  Christian's 
life,  in  him  and  from  him  by  faith,  is  written 
there  as  with  a  sun-beam. 

This  temptation  besets  me  to  this  day,  and  I 
know  not  that  I  have  any  other  which  is  so  par- 
ticular in  its  attacks  upon  me.  I  am  sometimes  rest- 
less in  bed  ;  and,  when  I  find  myself  so,  I  general- 
ly think  that  the  parenthesis  cannot  be  so  well  em- 
ployed as  in  prayer.  While  my  mind  is  thus  as- 
cending to  Christ  and  communing  with  him,  it  of- 
ten comes  across  me — "What  a  fool  art  thou,  to 
imagine  these  mental  effusions  can  he  known  to 
any  other  Being  !  what  a  senseless  enthusiast,  to 
imagine  that  the  man  who  was  nailed  to  a  cross 
can  have  any  knowledge  of  these  secrets  of  thy 
soul !"  On  one  o(  these  occasions  it  struck  me 
with  great  and  commanding    evidence — "Why 


134 


REMAINS   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


might  not  St.  John,  in  the  Isle  of  Patmos — impris- 
oned perhaps  in  a  cave — why  might  not  he  have 
said  so?  Why  might  not  he  have  douhted  wheth- 
er Christ  the  crucified  could  have  knowledge  of 
his  feelings,  when  he  was  in  the  Spirit  on  the  Lord's 
day?  He  had  no  doubt  communion  with  Christ  in 
the  Spirit,  before  he  had  those  palpable  evidences 
of  his  presence  which  immediately  followed." 

In  the  permission  of  certain  bold  infidel  charac- 
ters and  writings,  we  may  discern  plain  evidences 
of  that  awful  system  of  judicial  government,  with 
which  God  has  been  pleased  to  rule  the  world. 
Where  there  is  a  moral  indisposition,  where  men 
are  inclined  to  be  deceived,  where  they  are  wait- 
ing as  it  were  for  a  leader — there  he  sends  such 
men  or  such  writings,  as  harden  them  in  their  im- 
piety:  while  a  teachable  and  humble  mind  will 
discern  the  true  character  of  such  men  or  writings, 
and  escape  the  danger. 

I  can  conceive  a  character  much  more  perni- 
cious in  its  influence,  than  the  daring  and  impu- 
dent infidel.  A  man — in  the  estimation  of  all  the 
world  modest,  amiable,  benevolent — who  should, 
with  deep  concern,  lament  the  obligation  under 
which  he  feels  himself  to  depart  from  the  religion 
of  Europe,  the  religion  of  his  country,  the  religion 
of  his  family;  and  should  profess  his  unfeigned 
desire  to  find  this  religion  true,  but  that  he  cannot 
possibly  bring  his  mind  to  believe  it,  and  that  for  such 
and  such  reasons:  when  he  should  thus  introduce 
all  the  strongest  points  that  can  be  urged  on  the 
subject. 

But  God  governs  the  world.  It  is  not  in  his  de- 
sign to  permit  such  men  to  arise.  The  infidel  has 
always  had  something  about  him,  which  has  ascer- 
tained his  obliquity  to  the  eye,  that  has  not  been 
dimmed  by  the  moral  indisposition  of  the  heart. 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


135 


The  low  and  scurrilous  writers  against  Revela- 
tion carry  their  own  condemnation  with  them. 
They  are  like  an  ill  looking  fellow,  who  comes  into 
a  Court  of  Justice  to  give  evidence  ;  but  carries  the 
aspect,  on  the  first  glance,  of  a  town  bully,  ready 
to  swear  whatever  shall  be  suggested  to  him. 

Borke  has  painted  the  spirit  of  democracy  to 
the  life.  I  have  fallen  in  with  some  democrats, 
who  knew  nothing  of  me.  They  have  been  sub- 
jects of  great  curiosity,  when  I  could  forget  the 
horrid  display  of  sin  that  was  before  me.  I  saw  a 
malignant  eye — a  ferocity — an  intensity  of  mind 
on  their  point.  Viewed  in  its  temper  and  tenden- 
cies, Jacobinism  is  Devilism — Belialism.  It  takes 
the  yoke  of  God  and  man — puts  it  on  the  ground — 
and  stamps  on  it.  Every  man  is  called  out  into  ex- 
ertion against  it.  It  is  an  inveterate,  malignant, 
blaspheming,  atheistical,  fierce  spirit.  It  seems  a 
toss  up  with  these  met;,  whether  Satan  himself 
shall  govern  the  world.  Before  such  men,  I  say 
not  a  word.  Our  Master  has  commanded  us  not 
to  cast  pearls  before  swine.  I  am  vastly  delighted 
with  character — true  and  original  character :  but 
this  is  an  awful  and  affecting  display  of  it. 

The  church  has  endured  a  pagan  and  a  papal 
persecution.  There  remains  for  her  an  infidel 
persecution — general,  bitter,  purifying,  cementing. 

It  is,  perhaps,  impossible,  in  the  very  nature  of 
things,  that  such  another  scheme  as  Popery  could 
be  invented.  It  is  in  truth,  the  mystery  of  iniquity  ; 
that  it  should  be  able  to  work  itself  into  the  sim- 
ple, grand,  sublime,  holy  institution  of  Christianity, 
and  so  to  interweave  its  abominations  with  the 
truth,  as  to  occupy  the  strongest  passions  of  the 
soul,  and  to  control  the  strongest  understandings  ! 


136 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


While  Pascal  can  speak  of  Popery  as  he  does,  its 
influence  over  the  mass  of  the  people  can  excite 
no  surprise.  Those  two  master  principles — That 
we  must  believe  as  the  church  ordains — and,  That 
there  is  no  salvation  out  of  this  church — oppose, 
in  the  ignorance  and  fear  which  they  beget,  an  al- 
most insuperable  barrier  against  the  truth. 

I  have  not  such  expectations  of  a  millennium 
as  many  entertain  :  yet  I  believe  that  the  figures  and 
expressions  of  prophecy  have  never  received  their 
accomplishment.  They  are  too  grand  and  ample, 
to  have  been  fulfilled  by  any  state,  which  the 
church  has  hitherto  seen.  Christianity  has  yet 
had  no  face  suitable  to  its  dignity.  It  has  savored 
hitherto  too  much  of  man — of  his  institutions — of 
his  prejudices — of  his  follies — of  his  sin.  It  must 
be  drawn  out — depicted — exhibited — demonstrated 
to  the  world.  Its  chief  enemies  have  been  the 
men  by  whom,  under  the  professions  of  Hail,  Mas- 
ter! it  has  been  distorted,  abused,  and  vilified. 

Popery  was  the  master-piece  of  Satan.  I 
believe  him  utterly  incapable  of  such  another 
contrivance.  It  was  a  systematic  and  infallible 
plan,  for  forming  manacles  and  mufflers  for  the 
human  mind.  It  was  a  well  laid  design  to  render 
Christianity  contemptible,  by  the  abuse  of  its  prin- 
ciples and  its  institutions.  It  was  formed  to  over- 
whelm— to  enchant — to  sit  as  the  great  whore, 
making  the  earth  drunk  irith  her  fornications. 

The  infidel  conspiracy  approaches  nearest  to 
Popery.  But  infidelity  is  a  suicide.  It  dies  by  its 
own  malignity.  It  is  known  and  read  of  all  men. 
No  man  was  ever  injured  essentially  by  it,  who 
was  fortified  with  a  small  portion  of  the  genuine 
spirit  of  Christianity — its  contrition  and  its  docil- 
ity. Nor  is  it  one  in  its  efforts:  its  end  is  one  ; 
but  its  means  are  disjointed,  various,  and  often 


REMAINS   OF   MB.  CECIL. 


137 


clashing.  Popery  debases  and  alloys  Christianity  ; 
but  infidelity  is  a  furnace,  wherein  it  is  purified 
and  refined.  The  injuries  done  to  it  by  Popery, 
will  be  repaired  by  the  very  attacks  of  infidelity. 

In  the  mean  time,  Christianity  wears  an  en- 
chanting form  to  all,  who  can  penetrate  through  the 
mists  thrown  around  it  by  its  false  friends  and  its 
avowed  foes.  The  exiled  French  Priest  raises  the 
pity  and  indignation  of  all  Christians,  while  he 
describes  the  infernal  plots  of  the  infidel  conspira- 
tors against  Christianity,  and  shews  them  in  suc- 
cessful operation  against  his  church.*  We  seem, 
for  a  while,  to  forget  her  errors:  and  we  view 
her,  for  the  moment,  only  so  far  as  she  possesses 
Christianity  iu  common  with  ourselves.  But 
when  he  charges  the  origin  of  this  infidel  con- 
spiracy on  the  principles  asserted  by  the  Walden- 
ses  or  the  church  of  Geneva,  the  enchantment  dis- 
solves. We  see  that  he  is  under  the  influence  of 
a  sophism:  by  which,  having  imposed  upon  him- 
self, he  would  impose  upon  others.  With  him, 
Christianity  and  his  church  mean  one  and  the 
same  thing.  A  separation  from  his  church,  is  a 
separation  from  Christianity ;  and  proceeds  on 
principles  which  lead  necessarily,  if  pursued  to 
their  issues,  to  every  abomination  of  infidelity. 
But  let  him  know  that  the  church  of  Geneva  pro- 
tested against  the  false  friend  of  Christianity  ;  and 
that,  if  the  avowed  enemy  of  Christianity  had  then 
elevated  himself,  she  would  have  protested  with 
equal  zeal  against  him.  Let  him  know,  that,  if 
his  church  had  listened  to  the  voice  of  the  Re- 
former, the  enemy  of  Christianity  would  have 
wanted  ground  for  footing  to  his  attacks.  The 
Papist  falsely  charges  the  Reformer  as  the  father 
of  infidelity :   the  infidel  maliciously  confounds 

*  Alluding  to  Barruel's  Memoirs  of  Jacobinism.   J.  P. 


138 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


Popery  and  Christianity:  but  the  true  Christian 
is  as  far  from  the  licentiousness  of  the  infidel,  as 
he  is  from  the  corruption  of  the  Papist. 

I  am  not  inclined  to  view  things  in  a  gloomy 
aspect.  Christianity  must  undergo  a  renova- 
tion. If  God  has  sent  his  Son,  and  has  declared 
that  he  will  exalt  him  on  his  throne — the  earth 
and  all  that  it  inherits  are  contemptible  in  the 
view  of  such  a  plan!  If  this  be  God's  design — 
proceed  it  does,  and  proceed  it  will.  Christianity 
is  such  a  holy  and  spiritual  affair,  that  perhaps  all 
human  institutions  are  to  be  destroyed  to  make 
way  for  it.  Men  may  fashion  things  as  they  will; 
but,  if  there  is  no  effusion  of  the  Spirit  of  God  on 
their  institutions,  they  will  remain  barren  and  life- 
less. Many  Christians  appear  to  have  forgotten 
this. 

On  a  Christian's  duly  in  these  eventful  times. 

Ours  is  a  period  of  no  common  kind.  The  path 
of  duty  tn  a  Christian  is  now  unusually  difficult. 
It  seems  to  me,  however,  to  be  comprehended  in 
two  words — Be  quiet  and  useful.  The  precept 
is  short ;  but  the  application  of  it  requires  much 
grace  and  wisdom.  Take  not  a  single  step  out  of 
a  quiet  obscurity,  to  which  you  are  not  compelled 
by  a  sense  of  utility. 

Two  parties  have  divided  the  world. 

The  jacobins  are  desperadoes: — the  earth's 
torment  and  plague.  Bishop  Horsley  said  well  of 
them,  lately  from  the  pulpit — "These  are  they 
who  have  poisoned  Watts's  Hymns  for  children. 
These  are  they  who  are  making  efforts  to  con- 
taminate every  means  of  access  to  the  public 
mind.  And  what  is  their  aim  ? — What  are  their 
pretensions? — That  they  will  have  neither  Lord 
nor  King  over  them.    But,  verily,  one  is  their 


REMAINS  OF   MR.  CECIL. 


13<J 


King: — whose  name,  in  the  Hebrew  tongue,  is 
Abaddon;  but,  in  the  Greek  tonjrue,  he  is  called 
Apollyon  ;  a*h(l  in  plain  English — '  The  Devil.'  My 
soul,  come  not  thou  near  the  tents  of  these  wicked 
men  ! 

"But  the  antijacobixs  ?"  Their  project,  as 
a  body,  leaves  God  out  of  the  question.  Their 
proposal  is  unholy.  I  cannot  be  insensible  to  the 
security,  order,  and  liberty,  with  which  these 
kingdoms  are  favored  above  all  other  nations ; 
but  I  cannot  go  forth  with  these  men,  as  one  of 
their  party.  I  cannot  throw  up  my  hat,  and  shout 
"Huzza!"  Wo  to  the  world,  if  even  they 
prevail ! 

The  world  is  a  lying,  empty  pageant;  and  these 
men  are  ensnared  with  the  show.  My  part  in  it, 
as  a  Christian,  is  to  act  with  simplicity  as  the 
servant  of  God.  What  does  God  bid  me  do  ? 
What,  in  this  minute  of  time,  which  will  be  gone 
and  carry  me  with  it  into  eternity — what  is  my 
path  of  duty?  While  enemies  blaspheme,  and 
friends  are  beguiled,  let  me  stand  on  my  watch-tower 
with  the  Prophet,  listening  what  the  Lord  God  shall 
say  to  me.  In  any  scheme  of  man  I  dare  not 
be  drunken.  We,  ivho  are  of  the  day,  must  be 
sober.  Churchman  or  Dissenter,  if  1  am  a  true 
Christian,  I  shall  talk  thus  to  my  connexions. 
The  sentiment  of  the  multitude  is  ensnaring  :  but 
the  multitude  is  generally  wrong.  I  must  beware 
of  the  contagion.  Not  that  1  am  to  push  myself 
into  consequence.  The  matter  is  between  me 
and  my  God — Not  one  step  out  of  a  holy  quiet  and 
obscurity,  but  in  order  to  utility. 

Yet  we  must  be  active  and  bold,  whenever  duty 
calls  us  to  be  so.  My  own  conduct,  with  respect 
to  the  religious  world,  is  too  much  formed  on  my 
feelings.  I  sec  it  in  what  I  deem  a  lamentable 
state  ;  but  I  seem  to  say,  "  Well !  go  on  talking, 


140 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


and  mistaking,  and  making  a  noise  :  only  make 
not  a  noise  here:"  and  then  I  retire  into  my  closet, 
and  shrink  within  myself.  But  had  I  «more  faith, 
and  simplicity,  and  love,  and  self-denial,  I  might 
do  all  I  do  in  my  present  sphere,  but  I  should 
throw  myself  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  entreat 
and  argue  and  remonstrate. 

But  then  such  a  man  must  give  himself  up  as 
a  sacrifice.  He  would  be  misrepresented  and 
calumniated  from  many  quarters.  But  he  would 
make  up  his  account  for  such  treatment.  How 
would  St.  Paul  have  acted  in  such  a  state  of  the 
church  ?  Would  he  not  have  displayed  that  warm 
spirit,  which  made  him  say,  O  foolish  Galatians  .' 
who  hath  bewitched  you  ?  and  that  holy  self-denial, 
which  dictated,  I  will  very  gladly  spendand  be  spent 
for  you,  though  the  more  exceedingly  I  love  you,  the 
less  I  be  loved  ? 

It  is  not  to  be  calculated,  how  much  a  single 
man  may  affect,  who  throws  bis  whole  powers 
into  a  thing.  Who,  for  instance,  can  estimate  the 
influence  of  Voltaire?  He  shed  an  influence  of 
a  peculiar  sort  over  Europe.  His  powers  were 
those  of  a  gay  buffoon — far  different  from  those  of 
Hume,  and  others  of  his  class — but  be  threw  him- 
self wholly  into  them.  It  is  true  these  men  meet  the 
wickedness  or  the  imbecility  of  the  human  mind  ; 
but  there  are  many  right  hearted  people,  who  hang 
a  long  time  on  the  side  of  pure,  silent,  simple  re- 
ligion. Let  a  man,  who  sees  things  as  I  do, 
throw  himself  out  with  all  his  powers,  to  rescue 
and  guide  such  persons. 

On  Fortifying  Youth  against  Infidel  Principles. 

I  never  gathered  from  infidel  writers,  when  an 
avowed  infidel  myself,  any  solid  difficulties,  which 
were  not  brought  to  my  mind  by  a  very  young 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


141 


cliild  of  my  own.  "Why  was  sin  permitted?" — 
"  What  an  insignificant  world  is  this  to  be  re- 
deemed by  the  incarnation  and  death  of  the  Son 
of  God!" — "Who  can  believe  that  so  few  will  be 
I  saved  '"—Objections  of  this  kind,  in  the  mind  of 
reasoning  young  persons,  prove  to  me  that  they 
are  the  growth  of  fallen  nature. 

The  nurse  of  infidelity  is  sensuality.  Youth  are 
sensual.  The  Bible  stands  in  their  way.  It  pro- 
hibits the  indulgence  of  the  last  of  the  Jlesh,  the  lust 
of  the  eye,  and  the  pride  of  life.  But  the  young 
mind  loves  these  things;  and,  therefore,  it  hates 
the  Bible  which  prohibits  them.  It  is  prepared  to 
say,  "If  any  man  will  bring  me  arguments  against 
the  Bible,  I  will  thank  him:  if  not,  I  will  invent 
them." 

As  to  infidel  arguments,  there  is  no  weight  in 
them.  They  are  jejune  and  refuted.  Infidels  are 
not  themselves  convinced  by  them. 

In  combating  this  evil  in  youth,  we  must  recol- 
lect the  proverb,  that  "a  man  may  bring  his  horse 
to  the  water,  but  cannot  make  him  drink."  The 
minds  of  the  young  are  pre-occupied.  They  will 
not  listen.  Yet  a  crisis  may  come.  They  will 
stop  and  bethink  themselves. 

One  promising  method  with  them,  is,  to  appeal 
to  facts.  What  sort  of  men  are  infidels?  They 
are  loose,  fierce,  overbearing  men.  There  is  noth- 
ing in  them  like  sober  and  serious  inquiry.  They 
are  the  wildest  fanatics  on  earth.  Nor  have  they 
agreed  among  themselves  on  any  scheme  of  truth 
and  felicity.  Contrast  with  the  character  of  infi- 
dels that  of  real  Christians. 

It  is  advantageous  to  dwell,  with  youth  on  the 
need  and  necessities  of  man.  "Every  pang 
and  grief  tells  a  man  that  he  needs  a  helper:  but 
infidelity  provides  none.  And  what  can  its  schemes 
do  for  you  in  death?" 


142 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


Impress  them  with  a  sense  of  their  igno- 
rance. I  silence  myself,  many  times  a  day,  by 
a  sense  of  my  own  ignorance. 

Appeal  to  their  consciences.  "Why  is  it 
that  you  listen  to  infidelity  ?  Is  not  infidelity  a 
low,  carnal,  wicked  game?  Is  it  not  the  very  pic- 
ture of  the  Prodigal — Father,  give  me  the  portion  of 
goods  that  falleth  to  me  ?:' — The  question  why  infi- 
delity is  received,  exposes  it.  and  shows  it  to  the 
light.  Why— why  will  a  man  be  an  infidel?  Your 
children  may  urge  difficulties:  but  tell  them  that 
inexplicable  difficulties  surround  you:  you  are 
compelled  to  believe,  in  ninety-nine  cases  out  of  a 
hundred,  whether  you  will  or  no;  and  shall  you 
not  be  a  believer  in  the  hundredth  instance  from 
choice  ? 

Draw  odt  a  map  of  the  road  of  infidelity. 
It  will  lead  them  to  such  stages,  at  length,  as  they 
never  could  suspect.  Is  thy  servant  a  dog,  that  he 
should  do  this  thing  ? 

The  spirit  and  tone  of  your  house  will  have 
great  influence  on  your  children.  If  it  is  what  it 
ought  to  be,  it  w  ill  often  fasten  conviction  on  their 
minds,  however  wicked  they  may  heroine.  I 
have  felt  the  truth  of  this  in  my  own  case:  I  said, 
"My  father  is  right,  and  I  am  wrong!  Oh,  let  me 
die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be 
like  his!"  The  bye-conversations  in  a  family  are, 
in  this  view,  of  unspeakable  importance. 

On  the  whole,  arguments  addressed  to  the 
heart  pre^s  more  forcibly  than  those  addressed  to 
the  head.  When  I  was  a  child,  and  a  very 
wicked  one  too,  one  of  Dr.  Watts's  Hymns  sent 
me  to  weep  in  a  corner.  The  lives  in  Janeway's 
Token  had  the  same  effect.  I  felt  the  influence 
of  faith  in  suffering  Christians.  The  character  of 
young  Samuel  came  home  to  me,  when  nothing 
else  had  any  hold  on  my  mind. 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


143 


On  the  Management  of  Children. 

Great  wisdom  is  requisite  in  correcting  the 
evils  of  children.  A  child  is  bashful  perhaps: 
but,  in  stimulating  this  child,  we  are  too  apt  to 
forget  future  consequences.  "  Hold  up  your  head. 
Don't  be  vulgar."  At  length  they  hold  up  their 
heads  ;  and  acquire  such  airs,  that,  too  late,  we 
discover  our  error.  We  forgot  that  we  were  giv- 
ing gold,  to  purchase  dross.  We  forgot  that  we 
were  sacrificing  modesty  and  humility,  to  make 
them  young  actors  and  old  tyrants.* 

*  The  reader  cannot  but  admire  the  sentiments,  which 
Bishop  Hurd  lias,  on  this  subject,  put  into  the  mouth  of 
Mr.  Locke,  one  of  his  supposed  interlocutors  in  the  Dia- 
logue on  Foreign  Travels. 

"  Bashfulness  is  not  so  much  the  effect  of  an  ill  educa- 
tion, as  tne  proper  gift  and  provision  of  wise  nature. 
Every  stage  of  life  has  its  own  set  of  manners,  that  is 
suited  to  it,  and  best  becomes  it.  Each  is  beautiful  in  its 
season  ;  and  you  might  as  well  qu.irrel  with  the  child's 
rattle,  and  advance  him  directly  to  the  boy's  top  and 
span-farthing,  as  expect  from  diffident  youth  the  manly 
confidence  of  riper  age. 

"  Lamentable  in  the  mean  time,  I  am  sensible,  is  the 
condition  of  my  good  lady  :  who,  especially  if  she  be  a 
mighty,  well  bred  one,  is  perfectly  shocked  at  the  hoy's 
awkwardness,  and  calls  out  on  the  tailor,  the  dancing- 
master,  the  player,  the  travelled  tutor,  any  body  and 
every  body,  to  relieve  her  from  the  pain  of  so  disgrace- 
ful an  object- 

"  She  should,  however,  be  told,  if  a  proper  season  and 
words  soft  enough  could  be  found  to  convey  the  informa- 
tion, that  the  odious  thing  which  disturbs  her  so  much, 
is  one  of  nature's  signatures  impressed  on  that  age  ;  that 
bashfulness  is  but  the  passage  from  one  season  of  life  to 
another ;  and  that  as  the  body  is  then  the  least  graceful, 
when  the  limbs  are  making  their  last  efforts  and  hasten- 
ing to  their  just  proportion,  so  the  manners  are  least 


144 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


Christians  are  imbibing  so  much  of  the  cast 
and  temper  of  the  age,  that  they  seem  to  be 
anxiously  tutoring  their  children,  and  preparing 
them  by  all  manner  of  means,  not  for  a  better 
world,  but  for  the  present.  Yet  in  nothing  should 
the  simplicity  of  faith  be  more  unreservedly  ex- 
ercised, than  with  regard  to  children.  Their  ap- 
pointments and  stations,  yea,  even  their  present 
and  eternal  happiness  or  misery,  so  far  as  they 
are  influenced  by  their  states  and  conditions  in 
life,  may  be  decided  by  the  most  minute  and 
trivial  events,  all  of  which  are  in  God's  hand,  and 
not  in  ours.  An  unbelieving  spirit  pervades,  in 
this  respect,  too  intimately  the  Christian  world. 

When  I  meet  children  to  instruct  them,  I  do 
■lot  suffer  one  grown  person  to  be  present.  The 
Moravians  pursue  a  different  method.  Some  of 
their  elder  brethren  even  sit  among  the  children, 
to  sanction  and  encourage  the  work.  This  is 
well,  provided  children  are  to  be  addressed  in  the 
usual  manner.  But  that  will  effect  little  good. 
Nothing  is  easier  than  to  talk  to  children  ;  but,  to 
talk  to  them  as  they  ought  to  be  talked  to,  is  the 
very  last  effort  of  ability.  A  man  must  have  a 
vigorous  imagination.  He  must  have  extensive 
knowledge,  to  call  in  illustrations  from  the  four 
corners  of  the  earth  ;  for  he  will  make  little  pro- 
gress, but  by  illustration.  It  requires  great 
genius,  to  throw  the  mind  into  the  habit  of  chil- 
dren's minds.    I  aim  at  this,  but  1  find  it  the 

easy  and  disengaged,  ivhcn  the  mind,  conscious  and  im- 
patient of  its  perfections,  is  stretching  all  its  faculties  to 
their  full  growth." 

See  Bishop  Hurd's  Moral  and  Political  Dialogues, 
Ed.  6th. 

Load.  1788,  vol.  3d.  pp.  99,  100,  101.       J.  P. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


L45 


utmost  effort  of  ability.  No  sermon  ever  put  my 
mind  half  so  much  on  the  stretch.  The  effort  is 
such,  that,  were  one  person  present,  who  was 
capable  of  weighing  the  propriety  of  what  I  said, 
it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  proceed:  the 
mind  must,  in  such  a  case,  be  perfectly  at  its  ease  : 
it  must  not  have  to  exert  itself  under  cramps  and 
fetters.  I  am  surprised  at  nothing  which  Dr. 
Watts  did,  but  his  Hymns  for  Children.  Other 
men  could  have  written  as  well  as  he,  in  his  other 
works:  but  how  he  wrote  these  hymns,  I  know 
not.  Stories  fix  children's  attention.  The  mo- 
ment I  begin  to  talk  in  any  thing  like  an  abstract 
manner,  tlio  attention  subsides.  The  simplest 
manner  in  the  world  will  not  make  way  to  chil- 
dren's minds  for  abstract  truths.  With  stories  I 
find  1  could  rivet  their  attention  for  two  or  three 
hours. 

Children-  are  very  early  capable  of  impression. 
I  imprinted  on  my  daughter  the  idea  of  faith,  at  a 
very  early  age.  She  was  playing  one  day  with  a 
few  beads,  which  seemed  to  delight  her  wonder- 
fully. Her  whole  soul  was  absorbed  in  her  beads. 
I  said — "  My  dear,  you  have  some  pretty  beads 
there." — "Yes,  Papa!" — "And  you  seem  to  be 
vastly  pleased  with  them," — "Yes,  Papa!" — 
"  Well  now,  threw  'em  behind  the  fire."  The 
tears  started  into  her  eyes.  She  looked  earnestly 
at  me,  as  though  she  ought  to  have  a  reason  for 
such  a  cruel  sacrifice.  "  Well,  my  dear,  do  as  you 
please  :  but  you  know  I  never  told  you  to  do  any 
thing,  which  I  did  not  think  would  be  good  for 
you."  She  looked  at  me  a  few  moments  longer, 
and  then — summoning  up  all  her  fortitude — her 
breast  heaving  with  the  effort— she  dashed  them 
into  the  fire. — "  Well,"  said  I ;  "  there  let  them 
lie,  you  shall  hear  more  about  them  another  time  ; 


146 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


but  say  no  more  about  them  now."  Some  davs 
after,  I  bought  her  a  box  full  of  larger  beads,  and 
toys  of  the  same  kind.  When  I  returned  home,  I 
opened  the  treasure  and  set  it  before  her:  she 
burst  into  tears  with  extacy.  "Those,  my  child," 
said  I,  "  are  yours :  because  you  believed  me, 
when  I  told  you  it  would  be  better  for  you  to 
throw  those  two  or  three  paltry  beads  behind  the 
fire.  Now  that  has  brought  you  this  treasure. 
But  now,  my  dear,  remember,  as  long  as  you  live, 
what  Faith  is.  I  did  al!  this  to  teach  you  the 
meaning  of  Faith.  You  threw  your  heads  awav 
when  I  bid  you,  because  you  had  faith  in  me,  that 
I  never  advised  you  but  for  your  good.  Put  the 
same  confidence  in  God.  Believe  every  thing 
that  he  says  in  his  word-  Whether  you  under- 
stand it  or  not,  have  faith  in  him  tiiat  he  means 
your  good." 


On  Family  Worship. 

Fa  milt  religion  is  of  unspeakable  importance. 
Its  effect  will  greatly  depend  on  the  sincerity  of 
the  head  of  the  family,  and  on  his  mode  of  con- 
ducting the  worship  of  his  household.  If  his  chil- 
dren and  servants  do  not  sue  his  prayers  exempli- 
fied in  his  tempers  and  manners  they  will  be 
disgusted  with  religion.  Tediousness  will  weary 
them.  Fine  language  will  shoot  about  them. 
Formality  of  connexion  or  composition  in  prayer 
they  will  not  comprehend.  Gloominess  or  aus- 
terity of  devotion  will  make  them  dread  religion 
as  a  hard  service.  Let  them  be  met  with  smiles. 
Let  them  be  met  as  for  the  most  delightful  service 
in  which  they  can  be  engaged.  Let  them  find  it 
short,  savory,  simple,  plain,  tender,  heavenly. 
Worship,  thus  conducted,  may  be  used  as  an  en- 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


14? 


gine  of  vast  power  in  a  family.  It  diffuses  a  sym- 
pathy through  the  members.  It  calls  off  the  mind 
from  the  deadening  effect  of  worldly  affairs.  It 
arrests  every  member,  with  a  morning  and  eve- 
ning sermon,  in  the  midst  of  all  the  hurries  and 
cares  of  life.  It  says,  "There  is  a  "God" — 
"There  is  a  spiritual  world  !" — "There  is  a  life  to 
come!"  It  fixes  the  idea  of  responsibility  in  the 
mind.  It  furnishes  a  tender  and  judicious  father 
or  master  with  an  opportunity  of  gently  glancing 
at  faults,  where  a  direct  admonition  might  be  in- 
expedient. It  enables  him  to  relieve  the  weight 
with  which  subordination  or  service  often  sits  on 
the  minds  of  inferiors. 

In  my  family-worship  I  am  not  the  reader,  but 
employ  one  of  my  children.  1  make  no  for- 
mal comment  on  the  Scripture:  but,  when  any 
striking  event  or  sentiment  arises,  I  say,  "Mark 
that!" — "See  how  God  judges  of  that  thing!" 
Sometimes  I  ask  what  they  think  of  the  matter, 
and  how  such  a  thing  strikes  them.  I  generally 
receive  very  strange,  and  sometimes  ridiculous  an- 
swers; but  lam  pleased  with  them:  attention  is 
all  alive,  while  I  am  explaining  wherein  they  err, 
and  what  is  the  truth.  In  this  manner  I  endeavor 
to  impress  the  spirit  and  scope  of  the  passage  on 
the  family. 

I  particularly  aim  at  the  eradication  of  a  false 
principle,  wonderfully  interwoven  with  the  minds 
of  children  and  servants — they  take  their  standard 
from  the  neighborhood  and  their  acquaintance,  and 
by  this  they  judge  of  every  thing.  I  endeavor  to 
raise  them  to  a  persuasion,  that  God's  will  in  scrip- 
ture is  the  standard  ;  and  that  this  standard  is  per- 
petually in  opposition  to  that  corrupt  one  around 
and  before  them. 

The  younger  children  of  the  family  will  soon 
have  discernment  enough  to  perceive  that  the  Bi- 


148 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


ble  has  a  holiness  about  it,  that  runs  directly  con- 
trary to  the  stream  of  opinion.  And  then  because 
this  character  is  so  evident,  and  so  inseparable 
from  the  Scripture,  the  heart  will  distaste  and  re- 
ject it.  Yet  the  standard  must  be  preserved.  If  a 
man  should  lower  it,  they  would  soon  detect  him; 
and  he  must  after  all,  raise  them  up  to  the  right 
standard  again.  Much  may  be  effected  by  manner, 
as  to  impressing  truth  ;  but,  still  truth  will  remain 
irksome,  till  God  touch  the  heart. 

I  read  the  scriptures  to  my  family  in  some  regu- 
lar order:  and  am  pleased  to  have  thus  a  lesson 
found  for  me.  I  look  on  the  chapter  of  the  day  as 
a  lesson  sent  for  that  day;  and  so  I  regard  it  as 
coming  from  God  for  the  use  of  that  day,  and  not 
of  my  own  seeking. 

I  find  it  easy  to  keep  up  the  attention  of  a  con- 
gregation, in  comparison  of  that  of  my  family  1 
have  found  the  attention  best  gained  by  bringing  the 
truths  of  Scripture  into  comparison  wiih  the  facts 
which  are  before  our  eyes.  It  puts  more  stimuli 
into  family  expositions.  I  never  found  a  fact  lost, 
or  the  current  news  of  the  day  fail  of  arresting  the 
attention.  "  How  does  the  Bible  account  for  that 
fact? — That  man  murdered  his  father — This  or 
that  thing  happened  in  our  house  to-day — What 
does  the  Scripture  say  of  such  things?" 

It  is  difficult  to  fix  and  quiet  your  family.  The 
servants  are  eager  to  be  gone,  to  do  something  in 
hand.  There  has  been  some  disagreement,  per- 
haps between  them  and  their  mistress.  We  must 
seize  opportunities.  We  must  not  drive  hard  at 
6uch  times  as  these.  Regularity,  how  ever,  must  be 
enforced.  If  a  certain  hour  is  not  fixed  and  ad- 
hered to,  the  family  will  inevitably  be  found  in  con- 
fusion. 

Religion  should  be  prudently  brought  before  a 
family.    The  old  Dissenters  wearied  their  families. 


REMAINS   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


149 


Jacob  reasoned  well  with  Esau,  about  the  tender- 
ness of  his  children  and  his  flocks  and  herds. 
Something  gentle,  quiet,  moderate,  should  be  our 
aim.  There  should  be  no  scolding:  it  should  be 
mild  and  pleasant. 

I  avoid  absolute  uniformity  :  the  mind  revolts  at 
it:  though  1  would  shun  eccentricity  for  that  is 
6till  worse.  At  one  time  I  would  say  something 
on  what  is  read  :  but,  at  another  time,  nothing.  I 
make  it  as  natural  as  possible  :  "  I  am  a  religious 
man  :  you  are  my  children  and  my  servants:  it  is 
natural  that  we  should  do  so  and  so." 

Nothing  of  superstition  should  attach  to  family 
duty.  It  is  not  absolutely  and  in  all  cases  indis- 
pensable. If  unavoidably  interrupted,  we  omit  it : 
it  is  well.  If  I  were  peremptorily  ordered,  as  the 
Jews  were,  to  bring  a  lamb,  I  must  be  absolute. 
But  this  service  is  my  liberty,  not  my  task.  I  do 
not,  however,  mean  in  any  degree  to  relax  the 
proper  obligation. 

Children  and  servants  should  see  us  acting  on 
the  Psalmist's  declaration,  /  will  speak  of  thy  testi- 
mony before  Kings.  If  a  great  man  happen  to  be 
present,  let  them  see  that  I  deem  him  nothing  be- 
fore the  word  of  God  ! 


On  the  Influence  of  the  Parental  Character. 

The  influence  of  the  parental  character  on  chil- 
dren is  not  to  he  calculated.  Every  thing  around 
has  an  influence  on  us.  Indeed,  the  influence  of 
things  is  so  great,  that,  by  familiarity  with  them, 
they  insensibly  urge  us  on  principles  and  feelings 
which  we  before  abhorred.  I  knew  a  man  who 
took  in  a  democratical  paper,  only  to  laugh  at  it. 
But  at  length,  he  had  read  the  same  things  again 
and  again,  so  often,  that  he  began  to  think  there 


150 


asuAUta  or  mr.  cecil. 


must  be  sonic  truth  in  them,  and  that  men  and 
measures  were  really  such  as  they  were  so  often 
said  to  be.  A  drop  of  water  seems  to  have  no  in- 
fluence on  the  stone  ;  but  it  will  in  the  end,  wear 
its  way  through.  If  there  be  therefore  such  a 
mighty  influence  in  every  thing  around  us,  the  pa- 
rental influence  must  be  great  indeed. 

Consistency  is  the  great  character,  in  good  pa- 
rents, which  impresses  children.  They  may  wit- 
ness much  temper;  but  if  they  see  their  Father 
"keep  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,"  his  imperfec- 
tions will  be  understood  and  allowed  for  as  reason 
opens.  The  child  will  see  and  reflect  on  his  pa- 
rent's intention  :  and  this  will  have  great  influence 
on  his  mind.  This  influence  may,  indeed,  be  af- 
terwards counteracted  :  but  that  only  proves  that 
contrary  currents  may  arise,  and  carry  the  child 
another  way.  Old  Adam  may  be  too  strong  for 
young  Melancthon. 

The  implantation  of  principles  is  of  unspeakable 
importance,  especially  when  culled  from  time  to 
time  out  of  the  Bible.  The  child  feels  bis  parent's 
authority  supported  by  the  Bible,  and  the  authority 
of  the  Bible  supported  by  his  parent's  weight  and 
influence.  Here  are  data — fixed  data.  A  man  can 
very  seldom  get  rid  of  these  principles.  They 
stand  in  his  way.  He  wishes  to  forget  them,  per- 
haps ;  but  it  is  impossible. 

Where  parental  influence  does  not  convert,  it 
hampers.  It  hangs  on  the  wheels  of  evil.  I  had 
a  pious  mother,  who  dropped  things  in  my  way.  I 
could  never  rid  myself  of  them.  I  was  a  profess- 
ed infidel :  but  then  I  liked  to  be  an  infidel  in  compa- 
ny, rather  than  when  alone.  1  was  wretched  when 
by  myself.  These  principles,  and  maxims,  and  da- 
ta spoiled  tny  jollity.  With  my  companions  I 
could  sometimes  stifle  them:  like  embers  we  kept 
one  another  warm.    Besides,  I  was  here  a  sort  of 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


151 


hero.  I  had  beguiled  several  of  my  associates  into 
my  own  opinions,  and  had  to  maintain  a  character 
before  them.  But  I  could  not  divest  myself  of  my 
better  principles.  I  went  with  one  of  my  compan- 
ions to  see  "The  Minor."  He  could  laugh  heart- 
ily at  mother  Cole — I  could  not.  He  saw  in  her 
the  picture  of  all  who  talked  about  religion — I  knew 
better.  The  ridicule  on  regeneration  was  high  sport 
to  him — to  me,  it  was  none  :  it  could  not  move  my 
features.  He  knew  no  difference  between  regen- 
eration and  transubstantiation — I  did.  I  knew 
there  was  such  a  thing.  I  was  afraid  and  asham- 
ed to  laugh  at  it.  Parental  influence  thus  cleaves 
to  a  man  :  it  harasses  him — it  throws  itself  con- 
tinually in  his  way. 

I  find  in  myself  another  evidence  of  the  great- 
ness of  parental  influence.  I  detect  myself  to  this 
day,  in  laying  down  maxims  in  my  family,  which  I 
took  up  at  three  or  four  years  of  age,  before  I  could 
possibly  know  the  reason  of  the  thing. 

It  is  of  incalculable  importance  to  obtain  a  hold 
on  the  conscience.  Children  have  a  conscience  ; 
and  it  is  not  seared,  though  it  is  evil.  Bringing  the 
eternal  world  into  their  view — planning  and  act- 
ing with  that  world  before  us — this  gains  at  length, 
such  a  hold  on  them,  that,  with  all  the  infidel  poi- 
son which  they  may  afterward  imbibe,  there  are 
few  children  who,  at  night — in  their  chamber — in 
the  dark— in  a  storm  of  thunder — will  not  feel. 
They  cannot  cheat  like  other  men.  They  recol- 
lect that  eternity,  which  stands  in  their  way.  It 
rises  up  before  them,  like  the  ghost  of  Banquo  to 
Macbeth.  It  goads  them  :  it  thunders  in  their  ears. 
After  all,  they  are  obliged  to  compound  the  matter 
with  conscience,  if  they  cannot  be  prevailed  on  to 
return  to  God  without  delay  : — "1  must  be  reli- 
gious, one  time  or  other.  That  is  clear.  I  cannot 
get  rid  of  this  thing.  Well !  I  will  begin  at  such  a 
time.    I  will  finish  such  a  scheme,  and  then  !" 


152 


REMAINS   Of   MR.  CECIL. 


The  opinions — the  spirit — the  conversation — the 
manners  of  the  parent,  influence  the  child.  What- 
ever sort  of  man  he  is,  such  in  a  great  degree,  will 
be  the  child  ;  unless  constitution  or  accident  give 
him  another  turn.  If  the  parent  is  a  fantastic 
man — if  he  is  a  genealogist,  knows  nothing  but 
who  married  such  an  one,  and  who  married  such 
an  one — if  he  is  a  sensualist,  a  low  wretch — his 
children  will  usualiy  catch  these  tastes.  If  he  is  a 
literary  man — his  very  girls  will  talk  learnedly.  If 
he  is  a  griping,  hard,  miserly  man — such  will  be 
his  children.  This  1  speak  of  as  generally  the 
case.  It  may  happen,  that  the  parent's  disposition 
may  have  no  ground  to  work  on  in  that  of  the 
child.  It  may  happen,  that  the  child  may  he  driv- 
en into  disgust:  the  miser,  for  instance,  often  im- 
plants disgust,  and  his  son  becomes  a  spendthrift. 

After  all,  in  some  cases,  perhaps,  every  thing 
seems  to  have  been  done  and  exhibited  by  the  pi- 
ous parent  in  vain.  Yet  he  casts  his  bread  upon  thr 
waters.  And,  perhaps,  after  he  has  been  in  his 
grave  twenty  years,  his  son  remembers  what  his 
father  told  bin). 

Besides,  parental  influence  must  be  great  be- 
cause God  has  said  that  it  shall  be  so.  The  pa- 
rent is  not  to  stand  reasoning  and  calculating.  God 
has  said  that  his  character  shall  have  influence. 

And  this  appointment  of  Providence  becomes  of- 
ten the  punishment  of  a  wicked  man.  Such  a  man 
is  a  complete  sei.fist.  I  am  weary  of  hearing 
such  men  talk  about  their  "family" — and  their 
"family" — they  "must  provide  for  their  family." 
Their  family  has  no  place  in  their  real  regard. 
They  push  for  themselves.  But  God  says — "No! 
You  think  your  children  shall  be  so  and  so.  But 
they  shall  be  rods  for  your  own  backs.  They 
shall  be  your  curse.  They  shall  rise  up  against 
you."   The  most  common  of  all  human  complaints 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


153 


is — Parents  groaning  under  the  vices  of  their  chil- 
dren !  This  is  nil  the  effect  of  parental  influence- 
In  the  exercise  of  this  influence  there  are  two 
leading  dangers  to  he  avoided. 

Excess  of  severity  isone  danger.  My  mother, 
on  the  contrary,  would  talk  to  me,  and  weep  as 
she  talked.  I  flung  out  of  the  house  with  an  oath 
—hut  wept  too  when  I  got  into  the  street.  Sym- 
pathy is  the  powerful  engine  of  a  mother.  1  was 
desperate — I  would  go  on  hoard  of  a  privateer. 
But  there  are  soft  moments  to  such  desperadoes. 
God  docs  not,  at  ence,  abandon  them  to  them- 
selves. There  are  times  when  the  man  says — "  I 
should  be  glad  to  return,  but  I  should  not  like  to 
meet  that  face!"  if  he  has  been  treated  with  severity. 

Yet  excess  of  laxity  is  another  danger.  The 
case  of  Eli  affords  a  serious  warning  on  this  sub- 
ject. Instead  of  his  mild  expostulation  on  the 
flagrant  wickedness  of  his  sons — .Very,  my  sons,  it 
is  no  good  report  that  I  hear — he  ought  to  have  ex- 
ercised his  authority  as  a  parent  and  magistrate  in 
punishing  and  restraining  their  crimes. 


Remarks  on  Authors. 

When  I  look  at  the  mind  of  Lord  Bacon — it 
seems  vast,  original,  penetrating,  analogical,  be- 
yond all  competition.  When  I  look  at  his  charac- 
ter— it  is  wavering,  shuffling,  mean.  In  the  clos- 
ing scene,  and  in  that  only,  he  appears  in  true  dig- 
nity, as  a  man  of  profound  contrition. 

Baxter  surpasses,  perhaps,  all  others,  in  the 
grand,  impressive,  and  persuasive  style.  But  he  is 
not  to  be  named  with  Owen  as  to  furnishing  the 
student's  mind.  He  is,  however,  multifarious, 
complex,  practical. 

O 


1,3 1 


Remains  of  mr.  cecil. 


Clarke  lias,  above  all  other  men,  the  faculty  of 
lowering  the  life  anil  spiritual  sense  of  Scripture 
to  such  perfection,  as  to  leave  it  like  dry  bones,  di- 
vested of  every  particle  of  marrow  or  oil.  South 
is  nearer  the  truth.  lie  tells  more  of  it  ;  hut  he  tells 
it  with  the  tongue  of  a  viper,  for  he  was  most  bit- 
terly set  against  the  puritans.  But  there  is  a  spirit 
and  life  about  him.  He  must  and  will  he  heard. 
And  now  ami  then,  he  dans  on  us  with  an  unex- 
pected and  incomparable  stroke. 

The  modern  German  writers,  ivid  the  whole 
school  formed  after  them,  systematically  and  in- 
tentionally confound  vice  and  virtue,  and  argue  for 
the  passions  against  the  morals  and  institutions  of 
society.  There  never  was  a  more  dangerous  book 
written,  than  one  that  Mrs.  Woi.sio.ncraet  left 
imperfect,  but  which  Godwin  published  after  her 
death.  Her  "Wrongs  of  Women"  is  an  artful 
apology  for  adultery  :  she  labors  to  interest  the 
feelings  in  favor  of  an  adulteress,  by  making  her 
crime  the  consequence  of  the  barbarous  conduct 
of  a  despicable  husband,  while  she  is  painted  all 
softness  and  sensibility.  Nothing  like  thiswasev- 
er  attempted  before  the  modern  school. 

"  Some  men,"  says  Dr.  Patten  to  me,  "are  al- 
ways crying  fire  !  fire  !"  To  he  sure — where  there 
is  danger  there  ought  to  be  affectionate  earnestness. 
Who  would  remonstrate,  coldly  and  with  indiffer- 
ence, with  a  man  about  to  precipitate  himself  from 
Dover  Cliff,  and  not  rather  snatch  him  forcibly 
from  destruction  ?  Truth,  in  its  living  influence  on 
the  heart,  will  show  itself  in  consecratedness  and 
holy  zeal.  When  teachers  of  religion  are  desti- 
tute of  these  qualities,  the  world  readily  infers  that 
religion  itself  is  a  farce.  Let  us  do  the  world  jus- 
tice. It  has  very  seldom  found  a  considerate,  ac- 
commodating, and  gentle,  but  withal  earnest,  heav- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


155 


enly,  and  enlightened  teacher.  When  it  has  found 
such,  truth  has  received  a  very  general  attention. 
Such  a  man  was  Hervey,  and  his  works  have  met 
their  reward. 

Homer  approaches  nearest  of  all  theheathen  po- 
ets to  the  grandeur  of  Hebrew  poetry.  With  the 
theological  light  of  Scripture,  he  would  have  wou- 
derfully  resembled  it. 

Hooker  is  incomparable  in  strength  and  sanc- 
tity. His  first  books  are  wonderful.  I  do  not  no 
perfectly  meet  him,  as  he  advances  toward  the  close. 

Loskiel's  "Account  of  the  Moravian  Missions 
among  the  North  American  Indians"  has  taught 
me  two  things.  I  have  found  in  it  a  striking  illus- 
tration of  the  uniformity  with  which  the  "race  of 
Cod  operates  on  men.  Crantz,  in  his  "Account 
of  the  Missions  in  Greenland,"  had  shewn  the 
grace  of  God  working  on  a  man-fish  :  on  a  stupid — 
sottish — senseless  creature — scarcely  a  remove 
from  the  fish  on  which  he  lived.  Loskiel  shews 
the  same  grace  working  on  a  man-devil  :  a  fierce 
— bloody — revengeful  warrior — dancing  his  infer- 
nal war-dance  with  the  mind  of  a  fury.  Divine 
<rrace  brings  these  men  to  the  same  point.  It 
quickens,  stimulates,  and  elevates  the  Greenlunder : 
it  raises  him  to  a  sort  of  new  life  :  it  seems  almost 
to  bestow  on  him  new  senses  :  it  opens  his  eye,  and 
bends  his  ear,  and  rouses  the  heart:  and  what  it 
adds — it  sanctifies.  The  same  grace  lames  the 
high  spirit  of  the  Indian  :  it  reduces  him  to  the 
meekness,  and  docility,  and  simplicity  of  a  child. 
The  evidence  arising  to  Christianity  from  these 
facts  is,  perhaps,  seldom  sufficient,  by  itself,  to  con- 
vince the  gainsaytr :  but,  to  a  man  who  already  be- 
lieves, it  greatly  strengthens  the  reasons  of  his  be- 
lief.   I  have  seen  also  in  these  books,  that  the  fish- 


156 


REMAINS   Of    MR.  CECIL. 


boat,  and  the  oil,  and  the  tomahawk,  and  the  cap 
of  feathers  excepted — a  Christian  minister  has  to 
deal  with  just  the  same  sort  of  creatures,  as  the 
Greenlander  and  the  Indian  among  civilized  nations. 

Owen  stands  at  the  head  of  his  class  of  divines. 
His  scholars  will  he  more  profound  and  enlarged, 
and  better  furnished,  than  those  of  most  other 
writers.  His  work  on  the  Spirit  has  been  my 
treasure-house  and  one  of  my  very  first  rate  books. 
Such  writers  as  Riccaltoun  rather  disqualify  than 
prepare  a  minister  for  the  immediate  business  of 
tlie  pulpit.  Original  and  profound  thinkers  en- 
large his  views,  and  bring  into  exercise  the  pow- 
ers and  energies  of  his  own  mind,  and  should  there- 
fore be  his  daily  companions.  Their  matter  must, 
however,  be  ground  down  before  it  will  be  fit  for  the 
pulpit.  Such  writers  as  Owen,  who  though  less 
original,  have  united  detail  with  wisdom,  are  co- 
pious in  proper  topics,  and  in  matter  better  pre- 
pared for  immediate  use,  and  in  furniture  ready  fin- 
ished, as  it  were,  for  the  mind. 

Palet  is  an  unsound  casuist,  and  is  likely  to  do 
great  injury  to  morals  :  His  extenuation  of  the 
crimes  committed  by  an  intoxicated  man  for  in- 
stance, is  fallacious  and  dangerous.  Multiply  the 
crime  of  intoxication  into  the  consequences  that 
follow  from  it,  and  you  have  the  sum  total  of  the 
guilt  of  a  drunken  man. 

Rutherford's  Letters  is  one  of  my  classics. 
Were  truth  the  beam,  I  have  no  douht,  that  if 
Homer  and  Virgil  anil  Horace,  and  all  that  the 
world  has  agreed  to  idolize,  were  weighed  against 
that  book,  they  would  he  lighter  than  vanity.  He 
is  a  real  original.  There  are  in  his  letters  some 
inexpressibly  forcible  and  arresting  remonstrances 
with  uuconverted  men. 


REMAINS    Or    MR.  CECIL. 


151 


I  should  not  recommend  a  young  minister  to 
pay  much  deference  to  the  Scotch  Divines.  The 
Erskines,  who  were  the  best  of  them,  Hre  dry,  and 
labored,  and  prolix,  and  wearisome.  He  may  find 
incomparable  matter  in  them,  but  he  should  be- 
ware of  forming  his  taste  and  manner  after  their 
model.  I  want  a  more  kind  hearted  and  liberal 
sort  of  divinity.  He  had  much  better  take  up 
Bishop  Hall.  There  is  a  set  of  excellent,  but 
wrong-headed  men,  who  would  reform  the  London 
preachers  on  a  more  elaborate  plan.  They  are 
not  philosophers  who  talk  thus.  If  Owen  himself 
were  to  rise  from  the  grave,  unless  it  were  for  the 
influence  of  the  great  name  which  he  would  bring 
with  him,  he  might  close  his  days  with  a  small 
congregation,  in  some  hale  meeting-house. 

Shakspeare  had  a  low  and  licentious  taste. — 
When  be  chose  to  imagine  a  virtuous  and  exalted 
character,  he  would  completely  throw  his  mind  iu- 
to  it,  and  give  the  perfect  picture  of  such  a  char- 
acter. But  he  is  at  home  in  FalstafT.  No  high, 
grand,  virtuous,  religious  aim  beams  forth  in  him. 
A  man,  whose  heart  and  taste  are  modelled  on  the 
Bible,  nauseates  him  in  the  mass,  while  he  is  enrap- 
tured and  astonished  by  the  flashes  of  his  pre-em- 
inent genius. 

"Have  you  read  my  Key  to  the  Romans?" — 
said  Dr.  Tatlor,  of  Norwich,  to  Mr.  Newton. — 
"I  have  turned  it  over." — You  have  turned  it  over! 
And  is  this  the  treatment  a  book  must  meet  with, 
which  has  cost  me  many  years  of  hard  study  ? 
Must  I  be  told,  at  last,  that  you  l  ave  '  turned  it 
over,'  and  then  thrown  it  aside  ?  You  ought  to  have 
read  it  carefully  and  weighed  deliberately  what 
comes  forward  on  so  serious  a  subject." — "Hold  ! 
You  have  cut  me  out  full  employment,  if  my  life 


158 


REMAINS   OF  MR.  CECIL. 


were  to  be  as  long  as  Methuselah's.  I  have  some- 
what else  to  do  in  the  short  day  allotted  me,  than 
to  read  whatever  any  one  may  think  it  his  duty  to 
write.  When  I  read,  I  wish  to  read  to  good  pur- 
pose; and  there  are  some  books,  which  contradict 
on  the  very  face  of  them  what  appear  to  me  to  be 
first  principles.  You  surely  will  not  say  I  am 
bound  to  read  sue!)  books.  If  a  man  tells  me  he 
lias  a  very  elaborate  argument  to  prove  that  two 
and  two  make  five,  I  have  something  else  to  do 
than  to  attend  to  this  argument.  If  I  find  the  first 
mouthful  of  meat  which  I  take  from  a  fine  looking' 
joint  on  my  table  is  tainted,  I  need  not  eat  through 
it  to  lie  con  vinced  I  ought  to  send  it  away." 

I  never  read  any  sermons  so  much  like  White- 
tield's  masner  of  preaching  as  Latimer's — You 
see  a  simple  mind  uttering  all  its  feelings  ;  and  put- 
ing  forth  every  thing  as  it  comes,  without  any  ref- 
erence to  :Uooks  or  men,  with  a  naivete  seldom 
equalled. 

1  usirniD  Witsius's  "  Economy  of  the  Cove- 
nants," but  not  so  much  as  many  persons. — There  is 
'too  much  system.  I  used  to  study  commentators 
and  systems ;  but  I  am  come  almost  wholly,  at 
length,  to  the  Bible.  Commentators  are  excellent 
iin  genevel,  where  there  are  but  few  difficulties  :  but 
they  leave  the  harder  knot  still  untied.  I  find  in 
.the  Bible,  the  more  I  read,  a  grand  peculiarity,  that 
■seems:-to  say  to  all  who  attempt  to  systematize  it, 
"Iain  not  of  your  kind.  Iam  not  amenable  to 
your  methods  of  thinking.  I  am  untractable  in 
your^kands.  I  stand  alone.  The  great  and  wise 
^shalimever  exha-ist  my  treasures. — By  figures  and 
parables  1  will  cotne  down  to  the  feelings  and  un- 
■derstandi.ngs  of  the  ignorant.  Leave  me  as  I  am, 
bntstudy  me  incessantly."  Calvin's  Institutes  are. 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


150 


to  be  sure,  great  and  admirable,  and  so  are  his 
commentaries  ;  but  after  all,  if  we  must  have  com- 
mentators— as  we  certainly  must — pool  is  incom- 
parable, and  I  had  almost  said  abundant  of  him- 
self. 

Young  is,  of  all  other  men,  4*8"**  the  most 
striking  example^  of  the  disunion  of  piety  from 
truth.  If  we  read  his  most  true,  impassioned,  and 
impressive  estimate  of  the  world  and  of  religion, 
we  shall  think  it  impossible  that  he  was  uninflu- 
enced by  his  subject.  It  is,  however,  a  melan- 
choly fact,  that  he  was  hunting  after  preferment 
at  eighty  years  old  ;  and  felt  and  spoke  like  a  dis- 
appointed man.  Tlie  truth  was  pictured  on  his 
mind  in  most  vivid  colors.  He  felt  it,  while  he 
was  writing.  He  felt  himself  on  a  retired  spot: 
and  he  saw  death,  the  mighty  hunter,  pursuing  the 
unthinking  world.  He  saw  redemption — its  ne- 
cessity and  its  grandeur. ;  and  while  he  looked  on 
it,  he  spoke  as  a  man  would  speak  whose  mind 
and  heart  are  deeply  engaged.  Notwithstanding 
all  this,  the  view  did  not  reach  his  heart.  Had  I 
preached  in  his  pulpit  with  the  fervor  and  interest 
that  his  "  Night  Thoughts"  discover,  he  would 
have  been  terrified.  He  told  a  friend  of  mine, 
who  went  to  him  under  religious  fears,  that  he 

mUSt  GO  MORE  INTO  THE  WORLD  ! 


ON  THE  SCRIPTURES. 
Miscellaneous  Remarks  on  Hie  Scriptures. 

I  am  an  entire  disciple  of  Butler.  He  calls  his 
book  "Analogy;"  but  the  great  subject,  from  be- 
ginning to  end,  is  human  ignorance.  Berkeley 
has  done  much  to  reduce  man  to  a  right  view  of 


160 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


his  attainments  in  real  knowledge;  but  lie  goes 
too  far:  he  requires  a  demonstration  of  self- 
evident  truths:  he  requires  me  to  demonstrate 
that  that  table  is  before  me.  Beattie  has  well  re- 
plied to  this  error,  in  his  "  Immutability  of  Truth  ;" 
though  it  pleased  Mr.  Hume  to  call  that  book — 
"Philosophy  for  the  Ladies." 

Metaphysicians  seem  born  to  puzzle  and  con- 
found mankind.  I  am  surprised  to  hear  men  talk 
of  their  having  demonstrated  such  and  such  points. 
Even  Andrew  Baxter,  one  of  the  best  of  these 
metaphysicians,  though  he  reasons  and  speculates 
well,  has  not  demonstrated  to  my  mind  one  single 
point  by  his  reasonings.  They  know  nothing  at 
all  on  the  subject  of  moral  and  religious  truth,  be- 
yond what  God  has  revealed.  1  am  so  deeply 
convinced  of  this,  that  1  can  sit  by  and  smile  at 
the  fancies  of  these  men ;  and  especially  when 
they  fancy  they  have  found  out  demonstrations. 
Why  there  are  demonstrators,  who  will  carry  the 
world  before  them  ;  till  another  man  rises,  who 
demonstrates  the  very  opposite,  and  then,  of 
course,  the  world  follows  him  ! 

We  are  mere  mites  creeping  on  the  earth,  and 
oftentimes  conceited  mites  too.  If  any  superior 
being  will  condescend  to  visit  us  and  teach  us, 
something  may  be  known.  "  Has  God  spoken  to 
man  ?"  This  is  the  most  important  question  that 
can  be  asked.  All  ministers  should  examine  this 
matter  to  the  foundation.  Many  are  culpably 
negligent  herein.  But,  when  this  has  been  done, 
let  there  be  no  more  questionings  and  surmises. 
My  son  is  not,  peihaps,  convinced  that  I  am  en- 
titled to  be  his  teacher.  Let  us  try.  If  he  finds 
that  he  knows  more  than  I  do — well :  if  he  finds 
that  he  knows  nothing  and  submits — I  am  not  to 
renew  this  conviction  in  his  mind  every  time  he 
chooses  to  require  me  to  do  so. 


REMAINS   OF   MR,  CECIL. 


161 


If  any  honest  and  benevolent  man  felt  scruples* 
in  his  breast  concerning  Revelation,  he  would' 
hide  them  there  ;  and  would  not  move  wretched 
men  from  the  only  support,  which  they  can  have 
in  this  world.  I  am  thoroughly  convinced  of  the 
watit  of  real  integrity  and  benevolence  in  all  infi- 
dels. And  I  am  as  thoroughly  convinced  of  the 
want  of  real  belief  of  the  Scriptures  in  most  of 
those  who  profess  to  believe  them. 

Metaphysicians  can  unsettle  things,  but  they 
can  erect  nothing.  They  can  pull  down  a  church, 
but  they  cannot  build  a  hovel.  The  Hutchinsoni- 
ans  have  said  the  best  things  about  the  metaphy- 
sicians. I  am  no  Hutchinsonian  ;  yet  I  see  that 
they  have  data,  and  that  there  is  something  worth 
proving  in  what  they  assert. 

Principle  is  to  be  distinguished  from  preju- 
dice. The  man  who  should  endeavor  to  weaken 
my  belief  of  the  truth  of  the  Bible,  and  of  the 
fair  deduction  from  it  of  the  leading  doctrines  of 
religion,  under  the  notion  of  their  being  prejudices, 
should  be  regarded  by  me  as  an  assassin.  He 
stabs  me  in  my  dearest  hopes:  he  robs  me  of  my 
solid  happiness-,  and  he  has  no  equivalent  to  offer. 
This  species  of  evidence  of  the  truth  and  value  of 
Scripture  is  within  the  reach  of  all  men.  It  is  my 
strongest.  It  assures  me  as  fully  as  a  voice  could 
from  heaven,  that  my  principles  are  not  prejudices. 
I  see  in  the  Bible  my  heart  and  the  world  painted 
to  the  life  ;  and  I  see  just  thct  provision  made, 
which  is  competent  to  the  highest  ends  and  effects 
on  this  heart  and  this  world. 

The  Bible  resembles  an  extensive  and  highly 
cultivated  garden,  where  there  is  a  vast  variety 
and  profusion  of  fruits  and  flowers :  some  of  which 
are  more  essential  or  more  splendid  than  others  ; 


162 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL 


but  there  is  not  a  blade  suffered  to  grow  in  it, 
which  has  not  its  use  and  beauty  in  the  system. 
Salvation  for  sinners,  is  the  grand  truth  presented 
every  where,  and  in  all  points  of  light;  but  the 
pure  in  heart  sees  a  thousand  traits  of  the  divine 
character,  of  himself,  and  of  the  world — some 
striking  and  hold,  others  cast  as  it  were  into  the 
shade,  and  designed  to  be  searched  for  and  exam- 
ined— some  direct,  others  by  way  of  intimation  or 
inference. 

He,  who  reads  the  Scripture,  only  in  the  trans- 
lation, is  meanly  prepared  as  a  public  teacher. 
The  habit  of  reading  the  Scriptures  in  the  original 
throws  a  new  lighc  and  sense  over  numberless  pas- 
sages. The  original  has,  indeed,  been  obtruded 
so  frequently,  and  sometimes  so  absurdly,  on  the 
hearers,  that  their  confidence  in  the  translation 
has  been  shaken.  The  judicious  line  of  conduct 
herein,  is — To  think  with  the  wise,  and  talk  with 
the  vulgar — to  attain,  as  far  as  possible  and  by  all 
means,  the  true  sense  and  force  of  every  passage  ; 
and,  wherever  that  differs  from  the  received  trans- 
lation, work  it  in  imperceptibly,  that  the  hearers 
may  be  instructed  while  they  receive  no  prejudice 
against  that  form  in  which  they  enjoy  the  Scrip- 
tures. 

No  man  will  preach  the  Gospel  so  freely  as 
the  Scriptures  preach  it,  unless  he  will  submit  to 
talk  like  an  Antinomian,  in  the  estimation  of  a 
great  body  of  Christians  ;  nor  will  any  man  preach 
it  so  practically  as  the  Scriptures,  unless  he 
will  submit  to  be  called,  by  as  large  a  body,  an  Ar- 
minian.  Many  think  that  they  find  a  middle  path  : 
which  is,  in  fact,  neither  one  thing  nor  another  ; 
since  it  is  not  the  incomprehensible,  but  grand 
plan  of  the  Bible.    It  is  somewhat  of  human  con- 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CKCIL. 


163 


trivance.  It  savors  of  human  poverty  and  lit- 
tleness. 

Were  the  Scriptures  required  to  supply  a  direct 
answer  to  every  question  which  even  a  sincere 
inquirer  might  ask,  it  would  he  impracticable. 
They  form,  even  now,  a  large  volume.  The 
method  of  instruction  adopted  in  them  is,  there- 
fore, this : — The  rule  is  given  :  the  doctrine  is 
stated  :  exatnples  are  brought  forward — cases  in 
point,  which  illustrate  the  rule  and  the  doctrine  : 
and  this  is  found  sufficient  for  every  upright  and 
humble  mind. 

The  simple  and  unprejudiced  study  of  the  Bible 
is  the  death  of  religious  extravagance. — Many 
read  it  under  a  particular  bias  of  the  mind.  They 
read  books,  written  by  others,  under  the  same 
views.  Their  preaching  and  conversation  run  in 
the  same  channel.  If  they  could  awaken  them- 
selves from  this  state,  and  come  to  read  the  whole 
Scripture  for  every  thing  which  they  could  find 
there,  they  would  start  as  from  a  dream — amazed 
at  the  humble,  meek,  forbearing,  holy,  heavenly 
character  of  the  simple  religion  of  the  Scriptures, 
to  which,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  their  eyes 
had  been  blinded. 

The  right  way  of  interpreting  Scripture,  is,  to 
take  it  as  we  find  it,  without  any  attempt  to  force 
it  into  any  particular  system.  Whatever  may  be 
fairly  inferred  from  Scripture,  we  need  not  fear  to 
insist  on.  Many  passages  speak  the  language  of 
what  is  called  Calvinism,  and  that  in  almost  the 
strongest  terms:  I  would  not  have  a  man  clip  and 
curtail  these  passages,  to  bring  them  down  to 
some  system  :  let  him  go  with  them  in  their  free 
and  full  sense  ;  for  otherwise,  if  he  do  not  abso- 


164 


REMAINS   OF  MR.  CECIL. 


lutely  pervert  them,  he  will  attenuate  their  energy. 
But,  let  him  look  at  as  many  more,  which  speak 
the  language  of  Arminianism,  and  let  him  go  all 
the  way  with  these  also.  God  has  been  pleased 
thus  to  state  and  to  leave  the  thing  ;  and  all  our 
attempts  to  distort  it,  one  way  or  the  other,  are 
puny  and  contemptible. 

A  man  may  find  much  amusement  in  the  Bible 
— variety  of  prudential  instruction — abundance  of 
sublimity  and  poetry  :  but,  if  he  slops  there,  he 
stops  short  of  its  great  end  ;  for,  the  testimony  of 
Jesus  is  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  The  grand  secret  in 
the  study  of  the  Scriptures,  is,  to  discover  Jesus 
Christ  therein,  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life. 

Ik  reading  the  Scriptures,  we  are  apt  to  think 
God  farther  removed  from  us,  than  from  the  per- 
sons to  whom  he  spake  therein:  the  knowledge 
of  God  will  rectify  this  error;  as  if  God  coold  be 
farther  from  us  than  from  them.  In  reading  the 
Old  Testament  especially,  we  are  apt  to  think  that 
the  things  spoken  there, "in  the  prophet  Hosea,  for 
instance,  have  little  relation  to  us:  the  knowledge 
taught  by  Christian  experience  will  rectify  this 
error:  as  if  religion  were  not  always  the  same 
sort  of  transaction  between  God  and  the  soul. 

There  are  two  different  ways  of  treating  the 
truths  of  the  Gospel — the  scientific  and  the 
simple.  It  was  seriously  given  me  in  charge, 
when  I  first  entered  into  the  ministry,  by  a  fe- 
male who  attended  my  church,  that  I  should  study 
Baxter's  "Catholic  Theology."  I  did  so:  but  the 
best  idea  that  I  acquired  from  this  labor  was,  that 
the  most  sagacious  and  subtle  men  can  make  out 
little  beyond  the  plain,  obvious,  and  broad  state- 
ment of  truth  in  the  Scriptures.    I  should  think  it 


REMAIN'S   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


165 


a  very  proper  and  suitable  punishment  for  a  con- 
ceited and  pragmatical  dogmatist,  to  oblige  him  to 
digest  that  book.  Another  great  truth,  indeed, 
we  may  gather  from  it ;  and  that  is,  that  the  in- 
temperate men,  on  either  side,  are  very  little 
aware  of  the  consequences,  which  may  be  legi- 
mately  drawn  from  their  principles. — Even  Dr. 
Owen  ha3  erred.  I  would  not  compare  him  in 
this  respect,  with  Baxter  ;  for  he  has  handled  his 
points  with  far  greater  wisdom  and  simplicity : 
yet  he  errs  ex  abundanti.  He  attempts  to  make 
out  things  with  more  accuracy,  and  clearness,  and 
system,  than  the  Bible  will  warrant.  The  Bible 
scorns  to  be  treated  scientifically.  After  all  your  ac- 
curate statements,  it  will  leave  you  aground.  The 
Bible  does  not  come  round,  and  ask  our  opinion  of 
its  contents.  It  proposes  to  us  a  constitution  of  grace, 
which  we  are  to  receive,  though  we  do  not  wholly 
comprehend  it.  Numberless  questions  may  be  start- 
ed on  the  various  parts  of  this  constitution.  Much 
of  it  I  cannot  understand,  even  of  what  respects 
myself ;  but  I  am  called  to  act  on  it.  And  this  is 
agreeable  to  analogy.  My  child  will  ask  me  ques- 
tions on  the  fitness  or  unfitness  of  what  I  enjoin  : 
but  I  silence  him  :  "  You  are  not  yet  able  to  com- 
prehend this:  your  business  is,  to  believe  me  and 
obey  me."  But  the  schoolmen  will  not  be  satis- 
fied with  this  view  of  things:  yet  they  can  make 
nothing  out  satisfactorily.  They  have  their  de  re, 
and  their  de  nomine;  hut  nothing  is  gained  by 
these  attempts  at  clearness  and  nice  distinctions. 
These  very  accurate  men,  who  think  they  adjust 
every  thing  with  precision,  cannot  agree  among 
one  another,  and  do  little  else  than  puzzle  plainer 
minds. 


Whatever  definitions  men  have  given  of  relig- 
ion, 1  can  fiud  none  so  accurately  descriptive  of  it 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


as  this — tliat  it  is  such  a  belief  of  the  Bible  as 
maintains  a  living  influence  on  the  heart. — Men 
may  speculate,  criticise,  admire,  dispute  about, 
doubt,  or  believe  the  Bible:  but  the  religious 
man  is  such  because  he  so  believes  it,  as  to  carry 
habitually  a  practical  sense  of  its  truths  on  his 
mind. 

The  fears  of  the  general  class  of  Christians  are 
concerned  about  the  superstructure  of  religion; 
but  those  of  speculative  minds  chiefly  relate  to 
the  foundation.  The  less  thinking  man  doubts 
whether  he  is  on  the  foundation  :  he  whose  mind 
is  of  a  more  intellectual  turn  doubts  concerning 
the  foundation  itself.  I  have  met  with  many  of 
these  speculative  cases.  Attacks  of  this  nature 
are  generally  sudden.  A  suspicion  will,  by  sur- 
prise, damp  the  heart  ;  and,  for  a  time,  will  paint 
the  Bible  as  a  fable.  I  hare  found  it  useful  on 
such  occasions,  to  glance  over  the  whole  thread  of 
Scripture.  The  whole  presented  in  such  a  view, 
brings  back  the  mind  to  its  proper  tone  :  the  in- 
delible characters  of  simplicity  and  truth  impress 
with  irresistible  effect  that  heart,  which  can  dis- 
cern them  as  having  once  felt  them. 


On  the  Old  and  .\'eic  Dispensations. 
The  Old  and  New  Testaments  contain  but  one 
scheme  of  religion.  Neither  part  of  this  scheme 
can  be  understood  without  the  other;  and,  there- 
fore, great  errors  have  arisen  from  separating 
them.  They  are  like  the  rolls  on  which  they 
were  anciently  written,  before  books  of  the  pres- 
ent form  were  invented.  It  is  but  one  subject  and 
one  system,  from  beginning  to  end  ;  but  the  view 
which  we  obtain  of  it  grows  clearer  and  clearer, 
as  we  unwind  the  roll  that  contains  it. 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


107 


There  is  one  grand  and  striking  feature  of  dis- 
tinction between  the  spirit  of  the  Old  Testament 
dispensation  and  that  of  the  New. 

The  Old  Dispensation  was  a  dispensation  of 
limits,  waymarks,  forms  and  fashions:  every  thing 
was  weighed  and  measured  :  if  a  man  did  but 
gather  sticks  on  the  Sabbath,  be  was  to  be  stoned 
without  mercy  ;  if  a  Jew  brought  an  offering,  it 
was  of  no  avail  if  not  presented  at  the  door  of  the 
tabernacle  :  the  manner,  the  time,  the  circumstan- 
ces were  all  minutely  instituted  ;  and  no  devotion 
or  piety  of  spirit  could  exempt  a  man  from  the 
yoke  of  all  these  observances,  for  God  had  ap- 
pointed these  as  the  way  in  which  he  chose  that  a 
devout  Jew  should  express  li is  state  of  mind. 

But  the  New  Dispensation  changed  the  whole 
system.  Religion  was  now  to  become  more  pe- 
culiarly a  spiritual  transaction  between  God  and 
the  soul;  and  independent,  in  a  higher  measure 
than  ever  before,  of  all  positive  institutions.  Its 
few,  simple  institutions  bad  no  further  object, 
than  the  preservation  of  the  unity,  order,  sound- 
ness, and  purity  of  the  church — in  regard  to  doc- 
trine, government,  and  discipline. 

Nor  had  these  appointments  that  character  of 
unaccommodating  inflexibility,  which  marked  the 
institutions  of  the  Old  Dispensation.  All  nations, 
men  of  all  habits  anil  manners,  are  to  drink  life 
from  the  beneficent  stream  as  it  flows.  It  is  to 
throw  down  no  obstructions,  that  are  not  abso- 
lutely incompatible  with  its  progress.  But  it  is 
appointed  to  pervade  every  place  which  it  visits. 
Some,  it  enters  without  obstruction,  and  passes 
directly  through.  In  some,  it  meets  with  mounds 
and  obstacles  ;  yet  rises  till  it  finds  an  entrance. 
Others  are  so  fenced  and  fortified,  that  it  winds 
round  them  and  flows  forward  :  continuing  to  do 


16S 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


so,  till  it,  at  length,  finds  some  method  of  insinu- 
ating itself. 

And  thus  the  dispensation  of  grace  in  the 
church  accommodates  itself  to  the  various  tem- 
pers and  habits  which  it  finds  in  different  ages, 
nations,  and  bodies  of  men :  it  leaves  in  existence 
numberless  opinions  and  prejudices,  if  they  are 
not  inconsistent  with  its  main  design,  and  mingles 
and  insinuates  itself  among  them.  It  has  not 
limited  Christianity  to  any  one  form  of  church 
polity,  ordained  and  perfected  in  all  its  parts  by 
divine  authority  :  but  Christians  are  left  to  act 
herein  according  to  circumstances,  and  to  the  ex- 
ercise of  sound  discretion  under  those  circum- 
stances. 

On   Typical  and  Allegorical  Explanations  of 
Scripture. 

It  might  be  expected,  that,  when  God  had  de- 
termined to  send  his  Son  into  the  world,  there 
would  be  a  train  and  concatenation  of  circum- 
stances preparatory  to  his  coming — that  the  his- 
tory, which  declared  that  he  was  to  come,  should 
exhibit  many  persons  and  things,  which  would 
form  a  grand  preparation  for  the  event,  though 
not  so  many  as  an  absurd  fancy  might  imagine. 

There  is  a  certain  class  of  persons  who  wish  to 
rid  themselves  of  the  types.  Hikes  insists  that 
even  the  brazen  serpent  is  called  in  by  our  Lord 
by  way  of  illustration  only,  and  not  as  a  designed 
type.  Robinson,  of  Cambridge,  when  he  began 
to  verge  toward  Sociaianism,  began  to  ridicule 
the  types;  and  to  find  matter  of  sport  in  the 
pomegranates  and  the  bells  of  tba  high  priest's 
garment.  At  all  events,  the  subject  should  not  be 
treated  with  levity  and  irreverence  :  it  deserves 
serious  reflection. 


REMAINS    OF  Ml 


CECIL. 


169 


With  respect  to  the  expediency  of  employing  the 
types  much  in  the  pulpit,  that  is  another  question. 
I  seldom  employ  them.  I  am  jealous  for  truth 
and  its  sanctions.  The  Old  Dispensation  was  a 
typical  dispensation  :  but  the  New  is  a  dispensa- 
tion unrolled.  When  speaking  of  the  typical  dis- 
pensation, we  must  admire  a  master,  like  St.  Paul. 
But  to  us,  modesty  becomes  a  duty  in  treating 
such  subjects  in  our  ministry.  Remember,  "  This 
is  none  other  but  the  house  of  God  !  and  this  is  the 
gate  of  heaven  !  How  dreadful  if  I  lead  thousands 
with  nonsense ! — if  I  lose  the  opportunity  of  im- 
pressing solid  truths! — if  I  waste  their  precious 
time !" 

A  minister  should  say  to  himself:  "I  would 
labor  to  cut  off  occasions  of  objecting  to  the  truth. 
I  would  labor  to  grapple  with  men's  consciences. 
I  would  shew  them  that  there  is  no  strange  twist 
in  our  view  of  religion.  I  must  avoid,  as  much  as 
possible,  having  my  judgment  called  in  question: 
many  watch  for  this,  and  will  avail  themselves  of 
any  advantage.  Some  who  hear  me,  are  thus 
continually  seeking  excuses  for  not  listening  to  the 
warnings  and  invitations  of  the  word  :  they  are 
endeavoring  to  get  out  of  our  reach  ;  but  I  would 
hold  them  fust  by  such  passages  as,  "  What  shall  a 
man  give  in  exchange  for  his  soul .'" 

Many  men  labor  to  make  the  Bible  their  Bible. 
This  is  one  way  of  getting  its  yoke  off  their  necks. 
The  meaning,  however,  of  the  Bible  is  the  Bibte. 
If  I  preach  then,  on  imputed  righteousness,  for  in- 
stance, why  should  I  preach  from,  the  skies  pour 
doivn  righteousness,  and  then  anathematize  men  for 
not  believing  the  doctrine,  when  it  is  not  declared 
in  the  passage,  and  there  are  hundreds  of  places 
so  expressly  to  the  point? 

Most  of  the  folly  on  this  subject  of  allegorical  in- 
terpretation, has  arisen  from  a  want  of  holy  awe 


170 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


on  the  mind.  An  evil  fashion  may  lead  some  men 
into  it ;  and,  60  far,  the  case  is  somewhat  extenu- 
ated. We  should  ever  remember,  however,  that 
it  is  a  very  different  thing  to  allegorize  the  New 
Dispensation  from  allegorizing  the  Old  :  the  New 
is  a  dispensation  of  substance  and  realities. 

When  a  careless  young  man,  I  remember  to 
have  felt  alarms  in  my  conscience  from  some 
preachers ;  while  others,  from  this  method  of 
treating  their  subjects,  let  me  off  easily.  I  heard 
the  man  as  a  weak  allegorizer:  I  despised  him  as 
a  foolish  preacher:  till  I  met  with  some  plain,  sim- 
ple, solid  man,  who  seized  anil  urged  the  obvious 
meaning.  I  shall,  therefore,  carry  to  my  grave  a 
deep  conviction  of  the  danger  of  entering  far  into 
typical  and  allegorical  interpretations. 

Accommodation  of  Scripture,  if  Fober,  will  give 
variety.  The  apostles  do  this  so  far  as  to  show 
that  it  may  have  its  use  and  advantage.  It  should, 
however,  never  be  taken  as  a  ground-work,  but 
employed  only  in  the  way  of  allusion.  I  may  use 
the  passage,  there  is  a  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than 
a  brother,  by  way  of  allusion  to  Christ;  but  I  cau- 
not  employ  it  as  the  ground-work  of  a  discourse  on 
him. 


On  the  Diversity  of  Character  in  Christians  on  cor- 
recting the  Defects  in  our  Character. 

In  discovering  and  counteracting  the  de- 
fects of  our  own  character,  it  is  of  chief  im- 
portance that  we  really  intend  to  ascertain  the 
truth. 

The  intention  is  extremely  defective  in  us  all. 
The  man  who  thinks  he  has  such  honest  intention, 
yet  has  it  very  imperfectly.  He  says — "Touch 
trie  :  but  touch  me  like  a  gentleman.    Do  not  in- 


REMAINS  OF   MR.  CECIL 


171 


trude  on  the  delicacies  of  society."  The  real 
meaning  of  which  is,  that  he  has  no  intention  of 
hearing  the  truth  from  you.  A  man,  who  has  a 
wound  to  be  healed,  comes  to  the  surgeon  with 
such  an  intention  to  get  it  healed,  that  if  he  sus- 
pected his  skill  or  his  fidelity  he  would  seek 
another. 

Intention,  or  a  man's  really  desiring  to  know  the 
truth  concerning  himself,  would  produce  atten- 
tion. He  would  soon  find,  that  there  is  little  close 
business  in  a  man,  who  docs  not  withdraw  from 
the  world. 

He  will  begin  with  self-suspicion.  "Perhaps  I 
am  such  or  such  a  man.  I  see  defects  in  all  my 
friends,  and  I  must  be  a  madman  not  to  suppose 
that  I  also  have  mine.  I  see  defects  in  my  friends 
which  they  not  only  do  not  themselves  see:  but 
they  will  not  suffer  others  to  show  these  defects  to 
them.  I  must,  therefore,  take  it  for  granted  that  I 
am  a  more  foolish  and  pragmatical  fellow  that  I  can 
conceive." 

If  he  begin  thus,  then  he  will  be  willing  to  pro- 
ceed a  step  further  :  "  Let  me  try  if  I  cannot  reach 
these  defects."  1  have  found  out  myself  by  seeing 
my  picture  in  another  man.  I  would  choose  men 
of  my  own  constitution  :  other  men  would  give  me 
no  proper  picture  of  myself.  In  such  men,  I  can 
see  actions  to  be  ridiculous  or  absurd,  when  1 
could  not  have  seen  them  to  be  so  in  myself.  We 
may  learn  some  features  of  our  portrait  from  ene- 
mies: nn  enemy  gives  a  hard  feature  probably,  but 
it  is  often  a  truer  likeness  than  can  be  obtained 
from  a  friend.  What  with  your  friend's  tenderness 
for  you,  and  your  own  tenderness  for  yourself,  you 
cannot  get  at  the  true  feature.  We  should,  more- 
over, encourage  our  friends.  You  cannot,  in  one 
case  in  ten,  go  to  a  man  on  a  business  of  this  na- 
ture, without  offending  him.    He  will  allege  such 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


and  such  excuses  for  the  defect,  and  fritter  it  away 
to  nothing.  This  shows  the  hypocrisy — the  false- 
hood— the  s«lf-love — and  the  flattery  of  the  heart. 
This  endeavor  to  conceal  or  palliate  defects,  in- 
stead of  a  desire  to  discover  them,  grows  up  with 
us  from  infancy.  There  is  something  so  deceitful 
in  sin  !  A  man  is  brought  to  believe  his  own  lie  .'  He 
is  so  accustomed  to  hide  himself  from  himself,  that 
he  is  surprised  when  another  detects  and  unmasks 
him.  Hazael  verily  believed  himself  incapable  of 
becoming  what  the  prophet  foretold. 

Many  motives  urge  us  to  attempt  a  rectification 
of  our  defects.  Consider  the  importance  of  char- 
acter: he,  who  snys  he  cares  not  what  men  think 
of  him,  he  is  on  a  very  low  form  in  the  school  of 
experience  and  wisdom:  character  and  money  ef- 
fect almost  every  thing.  It  should  be  considered, 
too,  how  much  we  have  smarted  for  want  of  at- 
tending to  our  defects:  nineteen  out  of  twenty  of 
our  smarting  times,  arise  from  this  cause. 

In  counteracting  our  defects,  however,  w  e  shoul.l 
be  cautious  not  to  blunder  by  imitation  of  others. 
There  are  such  men  in  the  world  as  saint- errants. 
One  of  these  men  takes  up  the  History  of  Ignati- 
us Loyola;  and  nothing  seems  worthy  of  his  en- 
deavor, but  to  be  just  such  a  man  in  all  the  extrav- 
agancies of  his  character  and  conduct.  We  should 
search  till  we  fiud  where  our  character  fails,  and 
then  amend  it — not  attempt  to  become  another 
man. 

A  wise  man,  who  is  seriously  concerned  to 
learn  the  truth  respecting  himself,  will  not  spurn 
it  even  from  a  fool.  The  great  men  w  ho  kept 
fools  in  their  retinue,  learnt  more  truth  from  them 
than  from  their  companions.  A  real  self-observer 
will  ask  whether  there  is  any  truth  in  what  the 
fool  says  of  him.  Nay,  a  truth,  that  may  be  utter- 
ed in  envy  or  anger,  will  not  lose  its  weight  with 


REMAINS  OF  ME.  CECIL. 


17:3 


liim.  The  man,  who  is  determined  to  find  happi- 
ness, must  bear  to  have  it  even  beaten  into  him. 
No  man  ever  found  it  by  chance,  or  "yawned  it 
into  being  with  a  wish."  When  I  was  young,  my 
mother  had  a  servant  whose  conduct  I  thought 
truly  wise.  A  man  was  hired  to  brew  -T  and  this 
servant  was  to  watch  his  method,  in  order  to  learn 
his  art.  In  the  course  of  the  process,  something 
was  done  which  she  did  not  understand-  She 
asked  him,  and  he  abused  her  with  the  vilest  epi- 
thets for  her  ignorance  and  stupidity.  My  moth- 
er asked  her  when  she  related  it,  how  she  bore 
such  abuse.  "I  would  be  called,"  said  she,  "worse 
names  a  thousand  times,  for  the  sake  of  tk«r  infor- 
mation which  I  got  out  of  hini." 

If  a  man  would  seriously  set  himself  to  this 
work,  he  must  retire  from  the  crowd.  He  must 
not  live  in  a  bustle.  If  he  is  always  drivsng  through 
the  business  of  the  day,  Ire  will  be  so  in  harness  as- 
not  to  observe  the  road  he  is  going. 

He  must  place  perfect  standards  before  his  eyes. 
Every  man  has  his  favourite  notions  ;  and,  there- 
fore, no  man  is  a  proper  standard.  The  perfect 
standard  is  only  to  be  found  in  scripture-  Elijah 
meets  Ahab,  and  holds  up  the  perfect  standard  be- 
fore his  eyes,  till  he  shrinks  into  himself.*  1  have 
found  great  benefit  in  being  sickened  .vud  disgust- 
ed with  the  false  standards  of  men.  I  turn,  with 
stronger  convictions,  to  the.  perfect  standard  of 
God's  word. 

He  should  a\so 'Commv.ne  with  his  own  heart  upon 
his  bed — "  How  did  I  ft dl,  at  such  or  such  a  time, 
into  my  peculiar  humours  I  Had  any  other  man 
done  so,  I  should  have  lost  my  patience  with  him.'* 

Above  all,  he  must  make  his  defects  matter  of 
constant  prayer— Sea;. -ch  me,  O  God,  and  know  my 


"J  Kirigs  xviii.  17,  &o. 


174 


REMAINS   OP   MR.  CECIL. 


heart :  try  me,  and  know  my  thoughts  :  and  see  if 
there  be  any  tvicked  way  in  me,  and  lead  me  in  the 
way  everlasting. 

Men  are  to  be  estimated,  as  Johnson  says,  by 
the  mass  of  character.  A  block  of  tin  may  have 
a  grain  of  silver,  but  still  it  is  tin  ;  and  a  block  of 
silver  may  have  an  alloy  of  tin,  but  still  it  is  silver. 
The  mass  of  Elijah's  character  was  excellence  ; 
yet  he  was  not  without  the  alloy.  The  mass  of 
Jehu's  character  was  base  ;  yet  he  had  a  portion 
of  zeal  which  was  directed  by  God  to  great  ends. 
Bad  men  are  made  the  same  use  of  as  scaffolds  : 
they  are  employed  as  means  to  erect  a  budding,  and 
then  are  taken  down  and  destroyed. 

We  must  make  great  allowance  forconstitution. 
I  could  name  a  man,  who,  though  a  good  man,  is 
more  unguarded  in  his  tongue  than  many  immoral 
persons:  shall  I  condemn  him?  he  breaks  down 
here,  and  almost  here  only.  On  the  other  hand, 
many  are  so  mild  and  gentle,  as  to  make  one  won- 
der how  such  a  character  could  be  formed  with- 
out true  grace  entering  into  its  composition. 

God  has  given  to  every  man  a  peculiar  constitu- 
tion. No  man  is  to  say  "  I  am  such  or  such  a  man, 
and  1  can  be  no  other — such  or  such  is  my  way,  and 
I  am  what  God  made  me."  This  is  trne.in  a  sound 
sense:  but  in  an  unsound  sense.  it  has  led  men 
foolishly  and  wickedly  to  charge  their  eccentricities 
and  even  their  crimes  on  God.  It  is  every  man's 
duty  to  understand  his  own  constitution  ;  and  to 
apply  to  it  the  reign  or  the  spur,  as  it  may  need. 
All  men  cannot  do,  nor  ought  they  to  do,  all  things 
in  the  same  way,  nor  even  the  same  things.  But 
there  are  common  points  of  duty,  on  which  all 
men  of  all  habits  are  to  meet.    The  free  horse  is 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


175 


to  be  checked,  perhaps,  up-hill,  and  the  sluggish 
one  to  be  urged  ;  but  the  same  spirit,  which  would 
have  exhausted  itself  before,  shows  itself  probably 
in  resistance  down-hill,  when  he  feels  the  breech- 
ing press  upon  him  behind — but  he  must  be  whip- 
ped out  of  his  resistance. 

There  is  a  large  class  of  Christians,  who  want 
discrimination  in  religion.  They  are  sound  and 
excellent  men,  but  they  are  not  men  of  deep  ex- 
perience. They  are  not  men  of  Owen's,  Gilpin's, 
Rutherford's,  Adams's,  or  Brainerd's  school.  They 
have  a  general,  but  not  a  minute  acquaintance, 
with  the  combat  between  sin  and  grace  in  the 
heart.  I  have  learnt  not  to  bring  deeply  ex- 
perimental subjects  before  such  persons.  They 
cannot  understand  them,  but  are  likely  to  be  dis- 
tressed by  them.  This  difference  between  persons 
of  genuine  piety  arises  from  constitution — or  from 
the  manner  in  which  the  grace  of  God  first  met 
them — or  from  the  nature  and  degree  of  temptation 
through  which  God  has  led  them.  A  mind  finely 
constituted,  or  of  strong  passions —  a  mind  roused 
in  its  sins,  rather  than  one  drawn  insensibly — a 
mind  trained  in  a  severe  school  for  high  services — 
is  generally  the  subject  of  this  deeply  interior  ac- 
quaintance with  religion. 

There  is  a  great  diversity  of  character  among 
real  Christians.  Education,  constitution,  and  cir- 
cumstances will  fully  explain  this  diversity. 

He  has  seen  but  little  of  life,  who  does  not  dis- 
cern every  where  the  effects  of  education  on 
men's  opinions  and  habits  of  thinking.  Two  chil- 
dren bring  out  of  the  nursery  that,  which  displays 
itself  throughout  their  lives.  And  who  is  the  man 
that  can  rise  above  his  dispensation,  and  can  say, 
"  You  have  been  teaching  me  nonsense  ?" 


176 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


As  to  constitution — look  at  Martin  Luther: 
we  may  see  the  man  every  day :  li is  eyes,  and 
nose,  and  mouth  attest  his  character.  Look  at 
Melancthon  :  he  is  like  a  snail  with  his  couple  of 
horns:  he  puts  out  his  horns  and  feels — and  feels 
— and  feels.  No  education  could  have  rendered 
these  two  men  alike.  Their  difference  began  in  the 
womb.  Luther  dashes  in  saying  his  things  :  Me- 
lancthon must  go  round  about — he  must  consider 
what  the  Greek  says,  and  what  the  Syriac  says. 
Some  men  are  born  minute  men — lexicographers 
— of  a  German  character  :  they  will  hunt  through 
libraries  to  rectify  a  syllable.  Other  men  are 
born  keen  as  a  razor  :  they  have  a  sharp,  severe, 
strong  acumen  :  they  cut  every  thing  to  pieces: 
their  minds  are  like  a  case  of  instruments;  touch 
which  you  will,  it  wounds:  they  crucify  a  modest 
man.  Such  men  should  aim  at  a  right  knowledge 
of  character.  If  they  attained  this,  they  would 
find  out  the  sin  that  easily  besets  them.  The 
greater  the  capacity  of  such  men,  the  greater  their 
cruelty.  They  ought  to  blunt  their  instruments. 
They  ought  to  keep  them  in  a  case.  Other  men 
are  ambitious— fond  of  power:  pride  and  power 
give  a  velocity  to  their  motions.  Others  are  horn 
with  a  quiet,  retiring  mind.  Some  are  naturally 
fierce,  and  others  naturally  mild  and  placable. 
Men  often  take  to  themselves  great  credit  for 
what  they  owe  entirely  to  nature.  If  we  wotdd 
judge  rightly,  we  should  see  that  narrowness  or 
expansion  of  mind,  niggardliness  or  generosity, 
delicacy  or  boldness,  have  less  of  merit  or  de- 
merit than  we  commonly  assign  to  them. 

Circumstances,  also,  are  not  sufficiently  taken 
into  the  account,  when  we  estimate  character. 
For  example — we  generally  censure  the  Reform- 
ers and  Puritans  as  dogmatical,  morose,  systematic 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


177 


'men.  But,  it  is  easier  to  walk  on  a  road,  than  to 
form  that  road.  Other  men  labored,  and  toe  have 
entered  into  their  labors.  In  a  fine  day,  I  can  walk 
abroad;  but,  in  a  rough  and  stormy  day,  I  should 
find  it  another  thing  to  turn  coachman  ami  dare 
all  weathers.  These  men  had  to  bear  the  burden 
and  heat  of  the  day  :  they  had  to  fight  against 
hard  times;  they  had  to  stand  up  against  learning 
und  power.  Their  times  were  not  like  ours:  a 
man  may  now  think  what  he  will,  and  nobody  cares 
what  he  thinks.  A  man  of  that  school  was,  of 
course,  stiff,  rigid,  unyielding.  Tuckney  was  such 
a  man  :  VVinchcot  was  for  smoothing  things,  and 
walking  abroad.  We  see  circumstances  operating 
in  many  other  ways.  A  minister  unmarried,  and 
the  same  man  married,  are  very  different  men.  A 
minister  in  a  small  parish,  and  the  same  man  in  a 
large  spherejwhere  his  sides  are  spurred  and  goad- 
ed, are  very  different  men.  A  minister  on  tenter 
hooks — harassed — schooled,  and  the  same  man 
nursed — cherished — put  into  a  hot-house,  are  very 
different  men.  Some  of  us  are  hot-house  plants. 
We  grow  tall :  not  better— not  stronger.  Talents 
are  among  the  circumstances  which  form  the  diver- 
sity of  character.  A  man  of  talents  feels  his  own 
powers,  and  throws  himself  into  that  line  which  he 
can  pursue  with  most  success.  Saurin  felt  that  he 
could  flourish — lighten — thunder — enchant,  like  a 
magician.  Every  one  should  seriously  consider, 
how  far  his  talents  and  turn  of  mind  and  circum- 
stances drive  him  out  of  the  right  road.  It  is  an 
easy  thing  for  a  man  of  vigor  to  bring  a  quiet  one 
before  his  bar:  and  it  is  easy  for  this  quiet  man  to 
condemn  the  other:  yet  both  may  be  really  pious 
men — serving  God  with  their  best  powers.  Every 
man  has  his  peculiar  gift  of  God  ;  one  after  this  man- 
ner, and  the  other  after  that. 

Q 


178 


REMAINS   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


On  the  Fallen  Nature  of  Man. 

I  seem  to  acquire  little  new  knowledge  on  any 
subject,  compared  to  that  which  I  acquire  concern- 
ing man.  This  subject  is  inexhaustible.  I  have 
lately  rend  Colquhoun's  Treatise  on  the  "Police of 
the  Metropolis,"  and  BarmeH's  "  Memoirs  of  Jac- 
obinism." When  we  preachers  draw  pictures  of 
human  nature  in  the  pulpit,  we  are  told  that  we 
calumniate  it.  Calumniate  it! — Let  such  censurers 
read  these  writers,  and  confess  that  we  are  nov- 
ices in  painting  the  vices  of  the  heart.  All  of  us 
live  to  make  discoveries  of  the  evils  of  the  heart — 
not  of  its  virtues.  All  our  new  knowledge  of  hu- 
man nature  is  occupied  with  its  evil. 

Bartholomew  fair  is  one  of  the  most  perfect 
exhibitions  of  unrestrained  human  nature  in  the 
whole  world.  The  monkey,  the  tiger,  the  wolf, 
the  hog,  and  the  goat,  are  not  ordv  to  be  found  in 
their  own,  hut  in  human  form  ;  with  all  their  sav- 
an-eness,  brutality,  and  filthiness.  It  displays  human 
nature  in  its  most  degraded,  ridiculous  and  absurd 
conditions.  The  tiger  may  be  seen  in  a  quiesceut 
state,  if  we  pass  through  Dyot  street:  he  couches 
there:  he  blinks.  But,  at  Bartholomew  fair,  he  is 
rampant — vigorous— fierce.  Passing  through  a 
fair  in  a  country  town,  I  witnessed  a  most  instruc- 
tive scene.  Two  withered,  weatherbeaten  wretches 
were  standing  at  the  door  of  a  show-cart,  and  re- 
ceiving two-pences  from  s-veet,  innocent,  ruddy 
country  girls,  who  paid  their  money,  and  dropped 
their  curtsies;  while  these  wretches  smiled  at 
their  simplicity,  and  clapped  them  on  the  back  as 
they  entered  the  door.  What  a  picture  this  of  Sa- 
lon*! He  sets  off  his  shows,  and  draws  in  heedless 
creatures,  and  takes  from  them  every  thing  they 
have  good  about  them!  There  was  a  fellow  dressed 


REMAINS   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


179 


out  as  a  zany,  with  a  hump  back  and  a  hump  bel- 
ley,  a  lengthened  nose,  and  a  lengthened  chin.  To 
■what  a  depth  of  degradation  must  human  nature 
be  sunk,  to  seek  such  resources!  I  derived  more 
instruction  from  this  scene,  than  I  could  have  done 
from  many  elaborate  theological  treatises. 

View  man  on  whatever  side  we  can — in  his  sen- 
sualities, or  in  his  ferocities — in  the  sins  of  his 
flesh,  or  in  the  sins  of  his  spirit :  catch  him  when 
and  where  you  will — his  condition  is  deplorable. 
While  he  is  sunk  in  the  mass  himself,  he  has  no 
perception  of  his  state  :  but  when  he  begins  to 
emerge,  he  looks  down  with  amazement.  He 
sees  but  little,  however,  of  its  abomination  ;  be- 
cause he  has  still  an  affinity  with  the  evil. 

Human  nature  is  like  the  sea,  which  gains  by 
the  flow  of  the  tide  in  one  place,  what  it  has  lost 
by  the  ebb  in  another.  A  man  may  acquiesce  in 
the  method  which  God  takes  to  mortify  his  pride  ; 
but  he  is  in  danger  of  growing  proud  of  the  morti- 
fication :  and  so  in  oilier  cases. 


On  the  Need  of  Grace. 

There  is  something  so  remarkable  in  the  genius 
and  spirit  of  the  Gospel,  that  it  is  not  to  be  under- 
stood by  any  force  of  speculation  and  investigation. 
Baxter  attempted  this  method,  and  found  it  vain. 
The  state  of  the  heart  has  the  chief  influence,  in 
the  search  after  truth.  Humility,  contrition,  sim- 
plicity, sanctity — these  are  the  handmaids  of  the 
understanding  in  the  investigation  of  religion. 

How  is  it  that  some  men  labor  in  divine  things 
night  and  day,  but  labor  in  vain  ?  How  is  it  that 
men  can  turn  over  the  Bible  from  end  to  end  to 


180 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


support  errors  anil  heresies — absurdities  and  blas- 
phemies ?  They  take  not  the  spirit  with  the  word. 
A  spiritual  understanding  must  be  given — a  gra- 
cious perception — a  right  taste. 

"  A  vert  extraordinary  thing,"  said  one,  "if  1, 
who  have  read  the  Bible  over  and  over  in  the  orig- 
inal languages — have  studied  it  day  and  night — 
and  have  written  criticisms  and  comments  on  it: 
a  very  extraordinary  thing  that  I  should  not  be 
able  to  discover  that  meaning  in  the  Scriptures, 
which  is  said  to  be  so  plain  that  a  way-faring  man 
though  a  fool  shall  not  err  in  discovering  it  !"  And 
so  it  is  extraordinary  till  we  open  this  Bible  ;  and 
there  we  see  the  fact  explained.  The  man  who 
approaches  the  word  of  God  in  his  own  wisdom, 
shall  not  find  what  the  fool  shall  discover  under  the 
teaching  of  divine  wisdom  :  For  it  is  written,  1  will 
destroy  the  wisdom  of  the  wise,  and  will  bring  to 
nothing  the  understanding  of  the  prudent — and  God 
hath  chosen  the  foolish  things  of  the  world  to  confound 
the  wise. 

God,  in  his  providence,  seems  to  make  little  ac- 
count of  the  measures  and  contrivances  of  men,  in 
accomplishing  his  designs.  He  will  do  the  work, 
and  his  hand  will  be  seen  in  the  doing  of  it.  We 
are  obliged  to  wait  for  the  tide.  When  that  flows, 
and  the  wind  sets  in  fair,  let  us  hoist  the  sails. 
When  the  tide  has  left  a  ship  on  the  beach,  an  army 
may  attempt  to  move  it  in  vain  ;  but  when  she  has 
floated  by  the  water,  a  small  force  moves  her.  We 
must  wait  for  openings  in  Providence.  In  this  light 
I  view  the  darkness  of  the  heathen  world.  Let  us 
follow  every  apparent  leading  of  Providence,  in 
our  endeavors  to  communicate  light  to  the  heath- 
en ;  but,  still,  the  opening  and  the  whole  work 
must  be  of  God.    Thousands,  iudeed,  hear  the 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


181 


Gospel,  who  are  no  more  impressed  by  it  than 
though  they  were  heathens.  The  minds  of  some 
men  will  stand  as  it  were,  a  regular  blockade,  and 
yet  yield  to  a  side  blow — sit  unchanged  under  a 
searching  ministry,  and  yet  fall  beneath  a  casual 
word.  I  know  such  cases.  We  might  account  in- 
deed, for  them,  in  some  measure  as  philosophers. 
The  mind,  which  plants  itself  against  and  repels 
the  formal  and  avowed  attacks  of  the  preacher, 
may  be  surprised  by  a  hint  addressed,  perhaps,  to 
another:  yet,  after  all,  the  whole  work  is  of  God. 
We  may  make  very  little,  therefore,  of  the  vehicle. 
The  gospel — the  wants  of  men — the  indisposition 
of  the  heart — and  the  mighty  power  of  God — are 
always  and  universally  the  same.  By  whatever 
vehicle  God  conveys  that  mighty  energy,  which 
disposes  man  to  find  the  relief  of  his  wants  in  the 
Gospel,  he  still  is  the  worker.  It  is  a  divine  ope- 
ration of  God's  Holy  Spirit.  If  God  would  raise 
up  heathen  princes  with  the  spirit  of  Peter  the 
Great,  or  Kouli  Khan,  and  send  them  forth  under 
the  powerful  influence  of  Christianity  to  proselyte 
their  subjects,  we  might  expect  the  end  to  be  ac- 
complished :  but  this  is  a  scheme  suited  to  our 
littleness,  and  not  to  Him,  whose  thoughts  are  not 
as  our  thoughts,  and  whose  ways  are  not  as  our 
ways. 

A  lady  proposed  to  me  a  case,  which  seemed  to 
her  to  decide  against  those  views  of  religion  called 
evangelical.  She  knew  a  most  amiable  girl  who  was 
respectful  and  attentive  to  her  parents,  and  engag- 
ing and  lovely  to  all  connected  with  her  :  who  had, 
however,  no  objection  to  seeing  a  play;  and  had 
certainly  nothing  of  that,  which  she  knew  I  should 
call  religion:  but  she  asked  if  I  could  believe  that 
God  would  condemn  such  a  character  to  everlast- 
ing misery.    Many  persons  view  things  in  this 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


way.  They  set  themselves  up  to  dictate  to  God 
what  should  be  done,  on  points  which  he  only  can 
determine.  If  these  persons  are  ever  cured  of 
this  evil,  it  must  probably  be  in  some  such  way  as 
that  by  which  it  pleased  God  to  teach  Job.  Job 
could  assert  his  integrity  and  his  character  against 
the  arffuments  of  his  friends  :  but,  when  God  ask- 
ed, Where  icasl  thou  when  I  laid  the  foundations  of 
the  earth?  Job  prostrates  bis  soul  with  this  declar- 
ation— /  have  heard  of  thee  with  the  hearing  of  the 
ear,  but  now  mine  eye  seeth  thee.  Wherefore  I  abhor 
myself,  and  repent  in  dust  and  ashes. 

Evert  thinking  man  will  look  round  him,  when 
he  reflects  on  his  situation  in  this  world  ;  and  will 
ask.  "What  will  meet  my  case  ?  What  is  it  that  I 
want?  What  will  satisfy  me?  I  look  at  the  rich — 
and  I  see  Ahab,  in  the  midst  of  all  his  riches, sick 
at  heart  for  a  garden  of  herbs  !  I  see  Dives,  after 
all  his  wealth,  lifting  up  his  eyes  in  hell,  and  beg- 
ging for  a  drop  of  water  to  cool  the  rage  of  his 
sufferings!  1  see  the  rich  fool  summoned  away, 
in  the  very  moment  when  he  was  exulting  in  his 
hoards!  If  I  look  at  the  wise — I  see  Solomon, 
with  all  his  wisdom,  acting  like  a  fool;  and  I 
know,  that,  if  I  possessed  all  his  wisdom,  were  I 
left  to  myself  I  should  act  as  he  did.  I  see  Ahith- 
ophel,  with  all  his  policy,  hanging  himself  for  vex- 
ation !  If  I  turn  to  men  of  pleasure — I  see  that 
the  very  sum  of  all  pleasure  is,  that  it  is  Satan's 
bed  into  which  he  casts  his  slaves!  I  see  Esau 
selling  his  birth-right  for  a  mess  of  pottage  !  1  see 
Solomon,  after  all  his  enjoyments,  leaving  his 
name  a  scandal  to  the  church  to  the  latest  age!  If 
I  think  of  honor — take  a  walk  in  Westminster 
Abbey — there  is  an  end  of  all  inquiry.  There  I 
walk  among  the  mighty  dead  !  There  is  the  wind- 
ing up  of  human  glory  !  And  what  remains  of  the 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


183 


greatest  inan  of  my  country  ? — A  boasting  epitaph ! 
None  of  these  things,  then,  can  satisfy  me  !  I  must 
meet  death — I  must  meet  judgment — I  must  meet 
God — I  must  meet  eternity  !" 

On  the  Occasions  of  Enmity  against  Christianity. 
The  cause  of  enmity  against  real  Christianity  is  in 
the  heart.  The  angel  Gabriel  might  exhibit  the  truth, 
but  the  heart  would  rise  in  enmity.  To  suppose 
that  there  is  any  way  of  preaching  the  cross  so  as 
not  to  offend  the  world,  is  to  know  nothing  of  the 
subject. 

There  are  many  occasions,  however,  of  calling 
forth  this  enmity.  Any  man,  who  should  bleed 
me,  would  put  me  to  pain;  but  he  would  greatly 
aggravate  my  pain,  if  lie  rudely  tore  my  skin.  Oc- 
casions may  render  the  reception  of  that  truth  mor- 
ally impossible,  which,  under  the  most  favorable 
circumstances,  is  received  with  difficulty. 

Ignorance,  in  ministers,  is  an  occasion  of  ex- 
citing enmity  ugainst  Christianity.  A  man  may 
betray  ignorance  on  almost  every  subject,  except 
the  way  of  salvation.  But  if  others  see  him  to  be 
a  fool  off  his  own  ground,  they  will  think  him  a 
fool  on  that  ground.  It  is  a  great  error  to  rail 
against  human  learning,  so  as  to  imply  an  under- 
valuing of  knowledge  A  man  may  have  little  of 
what  is  called  learning,  but  he  must  have  knowl- 
edge.   Bunyan  was  such  a  man. 

Religious  profession  was,  at  first  a  conflict — a 
sacrifice:  now  it  is  become  a  trade.  The 
world  sees  this  spirit  pervade  many  men  :  and  it  is 
a  great  occasion  of  enmity.  Men  of  learning  and 
character  have  confirmed  this  impression:  they 
have  brought  out  this  mischief,  and  exhibited  it  to 
the  world.    Let  any  man  look  into  Warburton's 


13  4 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


"Doctrine  of  Grace,"  and  he  may  sit  down  and 
wonder  that  God  should  suffer  such  occasions  of 
enmity  to  arise. 

Fanatical  times  furnish  another  occasion. 
The  days  of  Cromwell,  for  instance.  The  great 
enemy  of  godliness  will  never  want  instruments 
to  make  the  best  of  such  subjects  of  ridicule.  As 
long  as  such  a  book  as  Butler's  Hudibras  is  in  the 
world,  it  will  supply  occasions  of  enmity  against 
real  religion. 

An  UNHOLY,  INSOLENT  PROFESSOR  OF  RELIGION 

occasions  enmity.  He  scorns  and  insults  man- 
kind. His  spirit  is  such  as  to  give  them  occasion 
of  contemning  the  truth  which  he  professes.  The 
world  will  allow  some  men  to  call  it  to  account: 
they  will  feel  a  weight  of  character  in  a  holy  and 
just  man. 

Eccentricity,  in  religious  men,  is  another  oc- 
casion of  enmity.  Ask  an  eccentric  man.  a  ques- 
tion :  he  will  stare  in  your  face,  and  look  very  spir- 
itual. I  knew  one  of  these  men  who  called  out  to  a 
farmer  as  he  was  passing,  "Farmer!  what  do  you 
know  of  Jesus  Christ  ?"  Much  spiritual  pride  lurks 
under  this  conduct.  There  is  want  of  breeding 
and  good  sense.  The  world  is  led  to  form  wrong 
associations  by  such  characters:  "Religion  makes 
a  man  a  fool,  or  mad  :  therefore  I  will  not  become 
religious." 

Injudicious  preaching  increases  the  offence 
of  the  cross.  Strange  interpretations  of  Scripture 
— ludicrous  comparisons — silly  stories — talking 
without  thinking :  these  are  occasions  of  enmity. 

The  loose  and  indiscreet  conduct  of  profess- 
ing Christians,  particularly  of  ministers,  is  another 
occasion.  The  world  looks  at  ministers  out  of  the 
pulpit,  to  know  what  they  mean  when  in  it. 

An  ostentatious  spirit  in  a  professor  of  reli- 
gion does  great  injury — that  giving  out  that  he  i* 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


185 


some  'great  one.  Even  a  child  will  often  detect 
this  spirit,  when  we  think  no  one  discovers" it. 

The  MANNER  OF    CONDUCTING  THE  DEVOTIONAL 

part  of  public  service  is  sometimes  offensive. 
It  is  as  much  as  to  say,  "we  mean  nothing  by 
this  service*  Have  patience,  and  you  shall  hear 
me." 

Slighting  the  offence  of  irregularity  lias 
done  much  harm.  It  was  a  wise  reply  of  a  Span- 
ish minister  to  his  king:  "Omit  this  affair: 
it  is  but  a  ceremony  !"  "  A  ceremony  !  Why  the 
King  is  a  ceremony  !" 

Good  men  have  given  occasion  of  offence  by 
maintaining  suspicious  connexions.  There  is 
a  wide  difference  between  rny  not  harassing  and 
exposing  a  doubtful  character,  and  my  endorsing 
and  authenticating  him. 

Contempt  of  men's  prejudices  of  education 
will  offend.  It  was  not  thus  with  St.  Paul:  lam 
made  all  things  to  all  men,  that  I  might  by  all  means 
save  some. 

A  want  of  the  spirit  of  the  cross  in  its 
professors  increases  the  offence  of  the  cross — 
that  humility,  patience,  and  love  to  souls,  which 
animated  Christ  when  he  offered  himself  on  the 
cross  for  the  sins  of  the  world. 

These  are  some  of  the  stumbling-blocks  in  the 
way  of  the  world.  And  wo  unto  the  loorld,  says 
our  Lord,  because  of  offences  !  for  it  must  needs  be 
that  offences  come,  but  too  unto  him  by  whom  the 
offence  comcth !  Every  man,  who  is  zealous  for  the 
diffusion  of  true  religion,  should  keep  his  eye  on 
all  occasions  of  offence,  since  religion,  of  itself  and 
in  its  own  native  beauty,  has  to  encounter  the  nat- 
ural enmity  of  the  degenerate  heart. 

•Exodus  xii.  26. 


186 


REMAINS   Of   MR.  CECIL. 


On  Religious  Retirement. 

It  is  difficult  to  speak  on  the  subject  of  reli- 
gious retirement.  I  am  fully  persuaded  that 
most  religious  tradesmen  are  defective  in  this  duty, 
those  especially  in  this  great  city.  I  tell  everyone 
of  them  so  with  whom  I  am  intimately  acquainted, 
and  they  all  contest  the  point  with  me. 

Yet  there  are  some  considerations,  which,  in  my 
own  private  judgment  concerning  the  thing,  lead 
me  to  think  that  the  religion  of  a  great  city  is  to  be 
viewed  in  an  aspect  of  its  own.  I  say  not  this  to 
those  men  whom  I  see  endangered  by  the  spirit  of 
such  a  place.  Give  them  an  inch  and  they  will 
take  an  ell.  But  I  learn  from  it  to  aim  at  possi- 
bilities, and  not  to  bend  the  bow  till  it  breaks. 

I  say,  every  where  and  to  all — "  You  must  hold 
intercourse  with  God,  or  your  soul  will  die.  You 
must  walk  with  God,  or  Satan  will  walk  with  you. 

You  must  grow  in  grace,  or  vou  will  lose  it:  and 
you  cannot  do  this,  but  by  appropriating  to  this 
object  a  due  portion  of  your  time,  and  diligently 
employing  suitable  means."  But,  having  said  this, 
I  leave  it.  I  cannot  limit  and  define  to  such  men 
the  exact  way  in  which  they  must  apply  these 
principles,  but  the  principles  themselves  I  insist 
on.  What  I  ought  to  do  myself  under  my  circum- 
stances, I  know  :  anil  what  I  ought  to  do  were  I 
in  trade,  I  seem  now  to  know  :  but  what  I  really 
should  do  were  I  in  trade,  I  know  not:  and,  be- 
cause I  know  it  not,  I  am  afraid,  in  tilling  another 
man  precisely  how  he  ought  to  apply  this  principle, 
that  I  should  act  hypocritically  and  pharisaically. 
Stated  seasons  of  retirement  ought  to  be  appointed 
and  religiously  observed  ;  but  the  time  aud  the 
measure  of  this  retirement  must  be  left  to  a  man's 
own  judgment  and  conscience. 


REMAINS    OF  MH. 


CECIL. 


187 


I  am  restrained  from  dogmatizing  on  the  subject, 
by  reflecting  on  the  sort  of  religion  which  seems 
in  fact  to  he  best  suited  to  human  nature  itself, 
and  especially  to  human  nature  harassed,  worried, 
loaded,  and  urged  as  it  is  in  this  great  city. 

But  I  am  restrained  also  by  another  considera- 
tion.— Difference  of  character  scerns  to  stamp  a 
holy  variety  on  the  operation  of  religious  principle. 
Some  men  live  in  a  spirit  of  prayer,  who  are 
scarcely  able  to  fix  themselves  steadily  to  the  sol- 
emn act  of  prayer. — Our  characters  are  so  much 
our  own,  that  if  a  man  were  to  come  into  my  fam- 
ily in  order  to  form  himself  on  my  model,  and  to 
imitate  me  fur  a  month,  it  might  seriously  injure 
him.  I  have  a  favorite  wa^k  of  twenty  steps  in 
my  study  and  chamber:  that  walk  is  my  oratory  : 
but,  if  another  man  were  obliged  to  walk  as  ha 
prayed,  it  is  very  probable  he  could  not  pray  at 
all. 

In  defining  the  operation  of  religious  principle, 
I  am  afraid  of  becoming  an  Albert  Durer.  Albert 
Durer  gave  rules  fur  forming  the  perfect  figure  of 
a  man.  He  marked  and  defined  all  the  relations 
and  proportions.  Albei  t  Durer' s  man  became  the 
model  of  perfection  in  every  Academy  in  Europe  : 
and  now  every  Academy  in  Europe  has  abandon- 
ed it,  because  no  such  figure  was  ever  found  in 
nature.  I  am  afraid  of  reducing  the  variety,  which 
to  a  certain  degree,  may  be  of  God's  own  forming, 
to  my  notion  of  perfection.  "You  must  maintain 
and  cultivate  a  spirit  of  devotion" — I  say  to  all: 
"  hut  be  ye  judges,  as  conscientious  men,  of  the 
particular  means  suited  to  your  circumstances." 

The  spiri  t  of  devotion  should  be  our  great  aim. 
We  are,  indeed,  buried  in  sense,  and  cannot  possi- 
bly attain  or  improve  this  spirit,  but  by  proper 
means  :  yet  these  means  are  to  be  adapted  and  va- 
ried to  character  and  situation. 


188 


REMAINS   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


"  I  must  walk  with  God.  In  some  way  or  oth- 
er, whatever  be  my  character  or  profession,  I  must 
acquire  the  holy  habit  of  connecting  every  thing 
that  passes  in  my  house  and  affairs,  with  God.  If 
sickness  or  health  visit  my  family,  my  eye  must 
see  and  my  heart  must  acknowledge  the  hand  of 
God  therein.  Whether  my  affairs  move  on  smooth- 
ly or  ruggedly,  God  must  be  acknowledged  in  them. 
If  I  go  out  of  my  house  or  come  into  it,  I  must  go 
out  und  come  in  as  under  the  eye  of  God.  If  I  am 
occupied  in  business  all  day  long,  I  must  still  have 
the  glory  of  God  in  my  view.  If  I  have  any  af- 
fair to  transact  with  another,  I  must  pray  that 
God  would  be  with  us  in  that  affair,  lest  we  should 
blunder,  and  injure  and  ruin  each  other." 

This  is  the  language  of  a  real  Christian.  But 
instead  of  such  a  spirit  as  this  among  the  great 
body  of  tradesmen  professing  themselves  religious 
— what  do  we  see  but  a  driving,  impetuous  pursuit 
of  the  world! — and,  in  this  pursuit,  not  seldom — 
mean,  low,  suspicious,  yea,  immoral  practices! 

Yet  I  once  went  to  a  friend  for  the  express  pur- 
pose of  calling  him  out  into  the  world.  I  said  to 
him — "It  is  your  duty  to  accept  the  loan  of  ten 
thousand  pounds,  and  to  push  yourself  forward  in- 
to an  ampler  sphere."  But  he  was  a  rare  char- 
acter: and  his  case  was  rare.  His  employers 
had  said,  "  We  are  asliamed  you  should  remain 
so  long  a  servant  in  our  house,  with  the  whole 
weight  of  affairs  on  you.  We  wish  you  to  enter 
as  a  principal  with  us,  and  will  advance  you  ten 
thousand  pounds.  It  is  the  custom  of  the  city — it 
is  your  due — we  are  dissatisfied  to  see  you  in  your 
present  sphere."  I  assured  him  that  it  appeared 
to  me  to  be  his  duty  to  accede  to  the  proposal.  But 
I  did  not  prevail.  He  said — "  Sir,  I  have  often 
heard  from  you  that  it  is  no  easy  thing  to  get  to 
heaven.    I  have  often  heard  from  you  that  is  no 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


1S9 


easy  thing  to  master  the  world.  I  have  every 
thing  I  wish.  More  would  encumber  me — in- 
crease my  difficulties — and  endanger  me." 

Solitude  shows  us  what  we  should  be  :  Socie- 
ty shows  us  what  we  are.  Yet,  in  the  theory,  sol- 
itude shows  us  our  true  character  better  than  soci- 
ety. A  man  in  his  closet  will  find  nature  putting 
herself  forth  in  actings,  which  the  presence  of  oth- 
ers would  restrain  bim  from  bringing  into  real  ef- 
fect. She  schemes  and  she  wishes,  here,  without 
reserve.  She  is  pure  nature.  An  enlightened  and 
vigilant  self-observer  is  surprised  and  alarmed.  He 
puts  himself  on  his  guard.  He  goes  forth  armed 
into  the  world.  But  society  shows  him  that  na- 
ture is  practically  evil.  The  circumstances  of  the 
day  as  they  arise  carry  him  away.  If  he  could  ab- 
stract himself,  and  follow  the  actings  of  his  own 
mind  with  an  impartial  eye,  he  could  not  believe 
himself  to  be  the  man  who  had  entered  into  the 
world  with  such  holy  resolutions. 

Recollection  is  the  life  of  religion.  The 
Christian  wants  to  know  no  new  thing,  but  to  have 
his  heart  elevated  more  above  the  world  by  se- 
cluding himself  from  it  as  much  as  his  duties  will 
allow,  that  religion  may  effect  this  its  great  end 
by  bringing  its  sublime  hopes  and  prospects  into 
more  steady  action  on  the  mind. 

I  know  not  how  it  is,  that  some  Christians  can 
make  so  little  of  recollection  and  retirement.  I 
find  the  spirit  of  the  world  a  strong  assimilating 
principle.  1  find  it  hurrying  my  mind  away  in  its 
vortex,  and  sinking  me  among  the  dregs  and  filth 
of  carnal  nature.  Even  my  ministerial  employ- 
ments would  degenerate  into  a  mere  following  of 
my  trade  and  crying  of  my  wares.    I  am  obliged 


100 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


to  withdraw  myself  regularly,  and  to  say  to  my 
heart,  "  What  are  you  doing  ? — Where  are  you  ?" 

On  a  Spiritual  Mind- 

Dr.  Owen  says,  if  a  man  of  a  carnal  mind  is 
brought  into  a  large  company,  lie  will  have  much 
to  do  :  if  into  a  company  of  Christians,  he  will  feel 
little  interest:  if  into  a  smaller  company  engaged 
in  religious  exercises,  he  will  feel  still  less:  but  if 
taken  into  a  closet  and  forced  to  meditate  on  God 
and  eternity,  this  will  be  insupportable  ! 

The  spiritual  man  is  born,  as  it  were,  into  anew 
■world.  He  has  a  new  taste.  He  savors  the  things 
of  the  Spirit.  He  turns  to  God,  as  the  needle  to 
the  pole. 

This  is  a  subject  of  which  many  can  under- 
stand but  little.  They  want  spiritual  taste.  Nay, 
they  account  it  enthusiasm.  Bishop  llorsley  will 
go  all  the  way  with  Christians  into  their  princi- 
ples: but  he  thinks  the  feelings  and  desires  of  a 
spiritual  mind  enthusiastical. 

There  are  various  CHARACTERISTICS  of  a 
spiritual  mind. 

Self  Loathing  is  a  characteristic  of  such  a 
mind.  The  axe  is  laid  to  the  root  of  a  vain-glori- 
ous spirit. 

It  maintains,  too,  a  walk  and  converse  with 
God.  Enoch  ivalked  with  God.  There  is  a  trans- 
action between  God  and  the  spiritual  mind:  if 
the  man  feels  dead  and  heartless,  that  is  matter  of 
complaint  to  God.  He  looks  to  God  for  wisdom 
for  the  day — for  the  hour — for  the  business  in 
hand. 

A  spiritual  mind  refers  its  affairs  to  God! 
"Let  God's  will  be  obeyed  by  me  in  this  affair. 
His  way  may  differ  from  that  which  1  should 
choose  !  but  iet  it  he  so  :  Surely,  I  have  behaved  and 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


101 


quieted  myself  as  a  child  that  is  weaned  of  his  moth- 
er :  my  soul  is  even  as  a  iveaned  child." 

A  spiritual  mind  has  something  of  the  nature  of 
the  sensitive  plant.  "  I  shall  smart  if  I  touch 
this  or  that."  There  is  a  holy  shrinking  away 
from  evil. 

A  spiritual  mind  enjoys,  at  times,  the  influx  of 

A  HOLY  JOT   AND    SATISFACTION,   Which  Surprises 

even  itself.  When  hereaved  of  creature  comforts, 
it  can  sometimes  find  such  a  repose  in  Christ  and 
his  promises,  that  the  man  can  say,  "  Well !  it 
is  enough  :  let  God  take  from  me  what  else  he 
pleases !" 

A  spiritual  mind  is  a  mortified  mind.  The 
church  of  Rome  talks  much  of  mortification,  but 
her  mortification  is  not  radical  and  spiritual.  Si- 
mon Stylites  will  willingly  mortify  himself  on 
his  pillar,  if  he  can  bring  people  around  him  to 
pray  to  him,  to  pray  for  them.  But  the  spiritual 
mind  must  mortify  itself  in  whatever  would  retard 
its  ascent  toward  heaven  :  it  must  rise  on  the 
wings  of  faith,  and  hope,  and  love. 

A  spiritual  mind  is  an  ingenuous  mind.  There 
is  a  sort  of  hypocrisy  in  us  all.  We  are  not  quite 
stripped  of  all  disguise.  One  man  wraps  round 
him  a  covering  of  one  kind,  and  another  of  anoth- 
er. They,  who  think  they  do  not  this,  yet  do  it 
though  they  know  it  not. 

Yet  this  spiritual  mind  is  a  sublime  mind.  It 
has  a  vast  and  extended  view.  It  has  seen  the 
glory  and  beauty  of  Christ,  and  cannot  therefore 
admire  the  goodly  buildings  of  the  temple:  as 
Christ,  says  Feneforij  had  seen  his  Father's  house, 
and  could  not  therefore  be  taken  with  the  glory  of 
the  earthly  structure  ! 

I  would  urge  young  persons,  when  they  are 
staggered  by  the  conversation  of  people  of  the 
world,  to  dwell  on  the  characteristics  of  a  spiritual 


192 


REMAINS  OF   MR.  CECIL 


mind.  "If  you  cannot  answer  their  arguments, 
yet  mark  their  spirit:  and  mark  what  a  contrary 
spirit  that  is  which  you  are  called  to  cultivate." 

There  are  various  MEANS  of  maintaining  and 
promoting  a  spiritual  mind.  Beware  of  saying 
concerning  this  or  that  evil,  Js  it  not  a  little  one? 
Much  depends  on  mortifying  the  hody.  There  are 
silent  marches  which  the  flesh  will  steal  on  us  : — 
the  temper  is  too  apt  to  rise:  the  tongue  will  let 
itself  loose:  the  imagination,  if  liberty  is  given  to 
it.  will  hurry  us  away.  Vain  company  will  injure 
the  mind  :  carnal  professors  of  religion  especially 
will  lower  its  tone:  we  catch  a  contagion  from 
such  men.  Misemployment  of  time  is  injurious  to 
the  mind  :  when  reflecting,  in  illness,  on  my  past 
years,  1  have  looked  back  with  self  reproach  on 
days  spent  in  my  study  :  1  was  wading  through 
history,  and  poetry,  and  monthly  journals  ;  but  I 
was  in  my  study  !  Another  man's  trifling  is  noto- 
rious to  all  observers:  but  what  am  /  doing  ? — 
Nothing,  perhaps,  that  has  a  reference  to  the  spir- 
itual good  of  my  congregation  !  I  do  not  ppeak 
against  a  chastised  attention  to  literature,  but  the 
abuse  of  it.  Avoid  all  idleness:  exercise  thyself  un- 
to godliness ;  plan  for  God.  Beware  of  temptation  : 
the  mind,  which  has  dwelt  on  sinful  objects,  will 
be  in  darkness  for  days.  Associate  with  spiritual- 
ly-minded men:  the  very  sight  of  a  good  man, 
though  he  says  nothing,  will  refresh  the  soul. 
Contemplate  Christ:  be  much  in  retirement  and 
prayer:  study  the  honor  and  glory  of  your  Master. 

On  Declension  in  Religion. 
A  christian  may  decline  far  in  religion,  without 
being  suspected.  He  may  maintain  appearances. 
Every  thing  seems  to  others  to  go  on  well.  He 
suspects  himself;  for  it  requires  great  laborto  main- 
tain appearances  :  especially  in  a  minister.  Dis- 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


193 


cerning  hearers  will,  however,  often  detect  such 
declensions.  He  talks  over  his  old  matters.  He 
says  his  things,  hut  in  a  cold  and  unfeeling  man- 
ner. He  is  sound,  indeed,  in  doctrine ;  perhaps 
more  sound  than  before  ;  for  there  is  a  great  ten- 
dency to  soundness  of  doctrine,  when  appearances 
are  to  be  kept  up  in  a  declining  state  of  the  heart. 

Where  a  man  has  real  grace,  it  may  be  part  of 
a  dispensation  toward  him  that  he  is  suffered  to 
decline.  He  walked  carelessly.  He  was  left  to 
decline,  that  he  might  be  brought  to  feel  his  need 
of  vigilance.  If  he  is  indulging  a  besetting  sin,  it 
may  please  God  to  expose  him,  especially  if  he  is 
a  high  spirited  man,  that  he  may  hang  down  his 
head  as  long  as  he  lives.  He  acted  thus  toward 
David  and  Hczekiah.  But  this  is  pulling  down  in 
order  to  build  up  again. 

The  CAUSES  of  a  decline  in  religion  should  be 
remarked. 

The  world  has  always  much  to  do  in  religious 
declension.  A  minister  is  tempted,  perhaps,  to 
sacrifice  every  thing  to  a  name.  If  any  appetite 
is  suffered  to  prevail,  it  will  stupify  the  mind  :  re- 
ligion is  an  abstract  and  elevated  affair:  The  way 
of  life  above  is  to  the  ivise,to  depart  from  hell  beneath. 
Keeping  on  good  terms  with  those  who  re- 
spect us,  is  a  snare.  A  speculative  turn  of 
mind  is  a  snare  :  it  lends  to  that  evil  heart  of  unbe- 
lief, which  departs  from  the  living  God.  Vain  con- 
fidence thinks  himself  in  no  danger:  he  knows 
the  truth:  he  can  dispute  for  the  truth:  "What 
should  we  fear?"  Why,  that  we  have  no  fear. 
Trifling  with'conscience  is  a  snare  :  no  man  in- 
dulges himself  in  any  thing  which  his  conscience 
tells  him  ought  not  to  be  done,  but  it  will  at  length 
wear  away  his  spirituality  of  mind. 

The  SYMPTOMS  of  a  religious  decline  are 
many  : — 

R 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


When  a  minister  begins  to  depart  from  God,  and 
to  lose  a  spiritual  mind,  he  becomes  fcnd  some- 
times of  ge^nteel  company,  who  can  entertain 
him,  and  who  know  how  to  respect  his  character  ! 
This  genteel  spirit  is  suspicious :  it  is  associated 
with  pride  and  delicacy,  and  a  love  of  ease:  in 
short,  it  is  the  spirit  of  the  world.  It  is  the  reverse 
of  condescending  to  mean  things:  it  is  the  reverse 
of  the  spirit  of  our  Master. 

It  is  a  symptom  of  decline,  when  a  man  will  un- 
necessarily EXPOSE  THE  IMPERFECTIONS  OF  THE 
religious  world.  "  Such  a  man,"  lie  vi  ill  say,  "is 
fond  of  praying;  hut  he  is  fond  of  money."  This 
is  the  very  opposite  spirit  to  that  of  St.  Paul,  who 
speaks  even  weeping  of  those  who  mind  earthly 
tilings. 

A  violent  sectarian  spirit  is  a  sign  of  reli- 
gious declension.  Honest  men  stand  firm  for  the 
vitals  of  religion.  If  the  mind  w  ere  rigbt,  the  cir- 
cumstantials of  religion  would  not  he  made  mat- 
ters of  fierce  contention.  The  spirit  of  St.  Paul 
was  of  another  kind.  If  meat  make  my  brother  to 
offend,  I  will  eat  no  meat  while  the  world  standelh, 
lest  I  make  my  brother  to  offend — One  beticvefh  that 
he  may  cat  all  things  :  another,  who  is  weak,  eateth 
herbs.  Let  not  him,  that  catelh,d'spise  him  that  eat- 
eth not;  and  let  not  him,  which  eateth  not,  judge  him 
that  eateth. 

Aversion  from  reproof  marks  a  state  of  reli- 
gious decline.  The  man  cannot  hear  to  have  his 
state  depicted,  even  in  the  pulpit.  He  calls  the 
preaching,  which  searches  and  detects  him,  Ar- 
minian  and  legal.  Hast  thou  found  me,  O  mine  en- 
emy? Why  should  he  quarrel  with  the  truth  ?  If 
that  truth  is  delivered  in  its  just  proportions,  his 
quarrel  is  with  God  ! 

Stupidity  under  chastisement  proves  a  man 
to  he  under  declension.    lie  is  not  disposed  to  ask, 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


195 


Wherefore  dost  thou  contend  with  me  ?  He  is  kicking 
against  the  pricks.  He  is  stricken,  but  has  not 
grieved.  He  is  chastised,  as  a  bullock  unaccustomed 
to  the  yoke. 

Such  a  man,  too,  has  oflen  a  high  mind.  He  is 
unhumblecl — boasting — stout-hearted.  He  is  ready 
to  censure  every  one  hut  himself. 

Unnecessary  occupation  is  another  evidence 
cf  declension.  Some  men  are  unavoidably  much 
engaged  in  the  world  :  To  such  men  God  will  give 
especial  grace,  if  they  seek  it;  and  they  shall  main- 
tain a  spirit  of  devotion  even  in  the  bustle  and  oc- 
cupation of  their  affairs.  But  some  men  will  be 
rich,  and  therefore  fall  into  temptation  and  a  snare ; 
they  will  have  shops  in  a  different  parts  of  the 
town  :  they  say  they  do  not  feel  this  affect  their 
religious  state  ;  but  I  cannot  believe  them:  a  man 
is  declined  from  God  before  he  enters  on  such 
schemes:  a  spiritual  and  devout  man  will  general- 
ly find  the  business  in  which  he  is  already  engaged 
a  sufficient  snare. 

In  short,  the  symptoms  may  be  this  or'that,  but 
the  disease  is  a  dead  palsy.  Ephraim! — he  hath 
mixed  himself  among  the  people  :  Ephraim  is  a  cake 
not  turned.  Strangers  have  devoured  his  strength, 
and  he  knoweth  it  not:  yea,  grey  hairs  are  here  and 
there  upon  him,  yet  he  knoweih  it  not. 


On  a  Christian's  associating  with  Irreligious  Per- 
sons for  their  Good. 

Christ  is  an  example  to  us  of  entering  into 
mixed  society.  But  our  imitation  of  him  herein 
must  admit  of  restrictions.  A  feeble  man  must 
avoid  danger.  If  any  one  could  go  into  society  as 
Christ  did,  them  let  him  go:  let  him  attend  mar- 
riage-feasts and  Pharisees'  houses. 


19S 


REMAINS   OF  MR.  CECIL. 


Much  depends  on  a  Christian's  observing  his 
call — the  openings  which  Providence  may  make 
before  him.  It  is  not  enough  to  say  that  he  fre- 
quents public  company  in  order  to  retard  the  pro- 
gress of  evil. 

But,  when  in  company  of  people  of  the  world, 
we  should  treat  them  kindly  and  tenderly — with 
feeling  and  compassion.  They  should  be  assisted, 
if  they  are  inclined  to  receive  assistance.  But  if  a 
Christian  falls  into  the  society  of  a  mere  worldling, 
it  must  be  like  the  meeting  of  two  persons  in  a 
rain — they  will  part  as  soon  as  possible.  If  a  man 
loves  such  company,  it  is  an  evil  symptom. 

It  is  a  Christian's  duty  to  maintain  a  kind  inter- 
course, if  practicable,  with  his  relatives.    And  he 

inUSt  DULY   APPRECIATE  THEIR  STATE  :  if  HOt  reli- 

gious,  they  cannot  see  and  feel  and  taste  his  en- 
joyments :  the}' accommodate  themselves  to  him, 
and  he  accommodates  himself  to  them.  It  is  much 
a  matter  of  accommodation  on  both  sides. 

Avoid  disgusting  such  friends  unnecessari- 
ly. A  precise  man,  for  instance,  must  be  humored. 
Your  friends  set  down  your  religion,  perhaps,  as  u 
case  of  humor. 

Cultivate  good  sense.  If  your  friends  per- 
ceive you  weak  in  any  part  of  your  views  and  con- 
duct, they  will  think  you  weak  in  your  religion. 

Avoid  vain  jangling.  There  is  a  disposition 
in  such  friends  to  avoid  important  and  pinching 
truth.  If  you  will  converse  with  them  on  the 
subject  of  religion,  they  will  often  endeavor  to 
draw  you  on  to  such  points  as  predestination. 
They  will  ask  you  what  you  think  of  the  salvation 
of  infants  and  of  the  heathen.  All  this  is  meant  to 
throw  out  the  great  question. 

Seize  favorable  occasions — not  only  the 
'  mollia  tempora  fundi ;"  but  when  public  charac- 
ters and  public  events  furnish  occasions  of  profita- 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


197 


ble  reflection.  Bring  before  your  friends  the  ex- 
treme CHILDISHNESS  OF  A  SINFUL  STATE.  Treat 

worldly  amusements  as  puerile  things.  People  of 
the  world  are  sick  at  heart  of  their  very  plea- 
sures. 

On  the  Christian  Sabbath. 

It  belongs  to  our  very  relation  to  God,  to  set 
apart  a  portion  of  our  time  for  his  service  :  but,  as 
it  might  have  been  difficult  for  canscience  to  deter- 
mine what  that  portion  should  be,  God  has  pre- 
scribed it  :  and  the  ground  of  the  observance  re- 
mains the  same,  whether  the  remembrance  of 
God's  resting  from  his  work,  or  any  other  reason, 
be  assigned  as  the  more  immediate  cause. 

The  Jewish  Sabbath  was  partly  of  political  in- 
stitution, and  partly  of  moral  obligation.  So  far 
as  it  was  a  political  appointment,  designed  to  pre- 
serve the  Jews  distinct  from  other  nations,  it  is 
abrogated :  so  far  as  it  was  ol  moral  obligation, 
it  remains  in  force. 

Our  Lord  evidently  designed  to  relax  the  strict- 
ness of  the  observance.  Christianity  is  not  a  hedge 
placed  round  a  peculiar  people.  A  slave  might  en- 
ter into  the  spirit  of  Christianity,  though  obliged  to 
work  as  a  slave  on  the  sabbath  :  he  might  be  in  the 
Spirit  on  the  Lord's  day,  though  in  the  mines  of 
Patmos. 

Difficulties  often  ariso  in  respect  to  the  observ- 
ance of  the  Sabbath.  I  tell  conscientious  persons, 
"  If  you  have  the  spirit  of  Christianity,  and  are  in 
aji  employment  contrary  to  Christianity,  you  will 
labor  to  escape  from  it,  and  God  will  open  your 
way."  If  such  a  man's  heart  be  right,  he  will  not 
throw  himself  out  of  bis  employment  the  first  day 
he  suspects  himself  to  be  wrong,  but  he  will  pray 
*ad  wait  till  his  way  shall  be  opened  before  him. 


198 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


Christ  came  not  to  abolish  the  Sabbath,  but  to 
explain  and  enforce  it,  as  he  did  the  rest  of  the 
law.  Its  observance  was  no  where  positively  en- 
joined by  him,  because  Christianity  was  to  be  prac- 
ticable, and  was  to  go  into  all  nations:  and  it 
goes  thither  stripped  of  its  precise  and  various  cir- 
cumstances. I  was  in  the  spirit  on  the  Lord's  day, 
seems  to  be  the  soul  of  the  Christian  Sabbath. 

In  this  view  of  the  day,  a  thousand  frivolous 
questions  concerning  its  observance  would  be  an- 
swered. "What  can  I  do?"  says  one:  I  answer, 
"Do  what  true  servants  of  God  will  do.  Bend 
not  to  what  is  wrong.  Be  in  the  spirit.  God  will 
help  you." 

In  short,  we  are  going  to  spend  a  Sabbath  in 
eternity.  The  Christian  will  acquire  as  much  of 
the  Sabbath  spirit  as  he  can.  And,  in  proportion 
to  a  man's  real  piety  in  every  age  of  the  church, 
he  will  be  found  to  have  been  a  diligent  observer 
of  the  Sabbath  day. 


On  Judging  justly. 

A  perfectly  just  and  sound  mind  is  a  rare  and 
invaluable  gift.  But  it  is  still  much  more  unusual 
to  see  such  a  mind  unbiassed  in  all  its  actings. 
God  has  given  this  soundness  of  mind  but  to  few  ; 
and  a  very  small  number  of  those  few  escape  the 
bias  of  some  predilection,  perhaps  habitually  ope- 
rating ;  and  none  are,  at  all  times  and  perfectly 
free.  I  once  saw  this  subject  forcibly  illustrated. 
A  watchmaker  told  me  that  a  gentleman  had  put 
an  exquisite  watch  into  his  hands,  that  went  irreg- 
ularly. It  was  as  perfect  a  piece  of  work  as  was 
ever  made.  He  took  it  to  pieces  anil  put  it  togeth- 
er again  twenty  times.  No  manner  of  defect  was 
to  be  discovered,  and  yet  the  watch  went  intolera- 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


109 


bly.  At  last  it  struck  him,  that,  possibly,  the  bal- 
ance-wheel might  liave  been  near  a  magnet.  On 
applying  a  neeflle  to  it,  he  found  his  suspicions 
true.  Here  was  all  the  mischief.  The  steel  work 
in  the  other  parts  of  the  watch  had  a  perpetual  in- 
fluence on  its  motions;  and  the  watch  went  as 
well  as  possible  with  a  new  wheel.  If  the  sound- 
est mind  be  magnetized  by  any  predilection,  it 
must  act  irregularly. 

Prejudice  is  often  the  result  of  such  strong  as- 
sociations, that  it  acts  involuntarily,  in  spite  of 
conviction  and  resolution.  The  first  step  toward 
its  eradication,  is  the  persevering  habit  of  present- 
ing it  to  the  mind  in  its  true  colors. 

If  a  man  will  look  at  most  of  his  prejudices,  he 
will  find  that  they  arise  from  his  field  of  view  being 
necessarily  narrow  like  the  eye  of  the  fly.  He  can 
have  but  little  better  notions  of  the  whole  scheme 
of  things,  as  has  been  well  said,  than  a  fly  on  the 
pavement  of  St.  Paul's  cathedral  can  have  of  the 
whole  structure.  He  is  offended,  therefore,  by 
inequalities  which  are  lost  in  the  grand  design. 
This  persuasion  will  fortify  him  against  many  in- 
jurious and  troublesome  prejudices. 

Jcst  judgment  depends  on  the  simplicity  and 
the  strength  of  the  mind.  The  eye  which  conveys 
a  perfect  idea  of  the  scene  to  the  mind,  must  he 
unclouded  and  strong.  If  the  mental  eye  be  not 
single,  the  judgment  will  be  warped  by  some  little, 
mean  and  selfish  interests;  and,  if  it  he  not  capa- 
ble of  a  wide  and  distant  range,  the  decision  will 
be  partial  and  imperfect.  For  example  :  a  man, 
with  either  ot  these  failings,  will  he  likely  to  blind 
his  eyes  from  the  convicin  n,  that  would  dart  on 
him,  when  he  places  a  son  or  a  friend  in  any  sphere 


200 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


of  influence,  because  he  is  his  son  or  his  friend  ; 
when  a  single  or  a  strong  eye  would  show  bim 
that  the  interests  of  religion  and  truth  required 
him  to  prefer  some  other  person.  The  mind  must 
be  raised  above  the  petty  interests  and  affairs  of 
life,  and  pursue  supremely  the  glory  of  God  and 
the  church. 

Some  minds  are  so  diseased,  that  they  can  see 
an  affair  only  in  that  light,  in  which  passion  or  pre- 
dilection first  presented  it,  or  as  it  appears  on  the 
surface.  The  essence,  the  truth  of  the  thing, 
which  must  give  character  to  the  whole,  and  on 
which  all  just  decision  must  depend,  may  lie  be- 
neath the  surface,  and  may  be  a  nice  affair.  But 
such  minds  cannot  enter  into  it.  It  is  as  though  I 
should  try  to  convince  such  persons — allowing  me 
that  the  pineal  gland  is  the  seat  of  the  soul — that, 
however  fair  and  perfect  the  form,  the  man  wanted 
the  essence  of  his  being,  in  wanting  that  apparently 
insignificant  part  of  his  body.  Such  men  would 
say,  "here  is  a  striking  and  perfect  form — all  parts 
are  harmonious — life  animates  the  frame — the  ma- 
chine plays  admirably — what  has  this  little  insig- 
nificant member  to  do  with  it  ?"  And  yet  this  is  the 
essential  and  characterizing  part  of  the  man. 

Evert  man  has  a  peculiar  turn  of  mind,  which 
gives  a  coloring  and  tinge  to  his  thoughts.  I  have 
particularly  detected  this  in  myself  with  respect  to 
public  affairs.  I  have  such  an  immediate  view  of 
God  acting  in  them,  that  all  the  great  men,  who 
make  such  a  noise  and  bustle  on  the  scene,  seem 
to  me  like  so  many  mere  puppets.  God  is  moving 
them  all,  to  effect  his  own  designs.  They  cannot 
advance  a  step,  whither  he  does  not  lead:  nor 
stand  a  moment,  where  he  does  not  place  them. 
Now  this  is  a  view  of  things,  which  it  is  my  privi- 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


201 


lege  to  take  as  a  Christian.  But  the  evil  lies  here. 
I  dwell  so  much  on  the  view  of  the  matter,  to 
which  the  turn  of  my  mind  leads  me,  that  I  forget 
sometimes  the  natural  tendencies  of  things.  God 
uses  all  things,  but  not  so  as  to  destroy  their  natu- 
ral tendencies.  They  are  good  or  evil,  according 
to  their  own  nature ;  not  according  to  the  use 
which  he  makes  of  them. 

Tue  mind  has  a  constant  tendency  to  conform 
itself  to  the  sentiments  and  cast  of  thinking  with 
which  it  is  chiefly  conversant,  either  among  hooks 
or  men.  If  the  influence  remain  undetected,  it 
grows  soon  into  an  inveterate  habit  of  obliquity. 
Even  if  it  be  detected,  it  is  the  most  difficult  thing 
in  the  world  to  bring  back  the  mind  to  the  standard, 
especially  if  there  be  any  thing  in  its  constitution 
which  assimulates  itself  to  the  error.  I  was  once 
much  in  the  habit  of  reading  the  mystical  writers  : 
a  book  of  Dr.  Owen's  clearly  convinced  me  that 
they  erred  :  yet  I  found  my  mind  everinclining  to- 
ward them,  and  winding  round  like  the  biassed 
bowl.  I  saw  clearly  the  absurdity  of  the  notions 
in  their  view  of  them,  and  yet  I  was  ever  talking 
of  "self  annihilation,"  &c.  and  am  not  even  now 
rid  of  the  thing. 


On  the  Character  of  St.  Paul. 

I  delight  to  contemplate  rit.  Paul  as  an  appoint- 
ed pattern.  Men  might  have  questioned  the  pro- 
priety of  urging  on  tliem  t.ic  example  of  Christ — 
they  might  have  said  that  wc  are  necessarily  in 
dissimilar  circumstances.  But  St.  Paul  stands  up 
in  like  case  with  ourselves — a  model  of  ministerial 
virtues. 

S 


KEMA1NS   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


We  consider  him,  perhaps,  in  point  of  character 
more  the  immediate  subject  of  extraordinary  inspi- 
ration, than  he  was  in  reality.  And  this  mistake 
affects  our  view  of  him  in  two  different  ways. 

We  suppose,  at  one  time,  that  his  virtues  were 
so  much  the  effect  of  extraordinary  communica- 
tions, that  he  is  no  proper  model  for  us;  whereas 
he  was  no  farther  fitted  to  his  circumstances  than 
every  Christian  has  warrant  to  expect  to  be,  60  far 
as  his  circumstances  are  similar. 

At  another  time,  perhaps,  though  we  acknowl- 
edge and  revere  his  distinguished  character,  yet 
our  view  of  his  virtues  is  exaltpd  beyond  due  mea- 
sure. We  should  remember,  that,  as  he  was  fitted 
for  his  circumstances;  so  he  was,  in  a  preat  de- 
gree, made  by  them.  Many  men  are,  doubtless, 
executing  their  appointed  task  in  retirement  and 
silence,  who  would  unfold  a  character  beyond  all 
expectation,  if  Providence  were  to  lead  them  into 
B  scene  where  the  world  rose  up  in  arms,  and  they 
were  sent  forth  into  it  under  a  clear  conviction  of 
an  especial  mission.  The  history  of  the  church 
seems  to  show  us  that  the  effects  of  grace,  ordina- 
ry or  extraordinary,  have  been  the  same  in  all 
ages. 

In  speaking  of  St.  Paul,  it  has  been  usual  to 
magnify  bis  learning,  among  the  many  other  great 
(jiialities  which  he  possessed.  That  point  seems 
never  to  have  been  satisfactorily  made  out.  He 
was  an  educated  Pharisee  ,  but,  farther  than  this, 
I  think  we  cannot  go.  His  quotations  from  the 
Greek  Poets  are  not  evidences  of  even  n  school  boys 
learning  in  our  day  :  for  we  forget.  wIipii  we  talk  of 
them,  that  he  was  a  Roman  quoting  Greek.  Nor 
do  I  see  any  thing  more  in  his  famous  speech  in 
the  Areopagus,  so  often  produced  as  evidence  on 
this  subject,  than  the  line  of  argument  to  which  a 


REMAJUS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


203 


strong  and  energetic  mind  would  lead  him.  If 
we  talk  of  his  talents,  indeed,  lie  rises  almost  be- 
yond admiration  :  hut  they  were  talents  of  a  cer- 
tain order;  and  the  very  display  which  we  have 
of  them  seems  a  strong  corroborative  proof,  that 
he  is  not  to  he  considered  as  a  profoundly  learned 
man  of  his  day.  For  instance,  had  he  studied 
Aristotle,  it  would  have  been  almost  impossible  but 
he  must  have  caught  some  influence,  which  we 
should  have  seen  in  his  writings.  But  there  is 
nothing  like  the  dry,  logical,  metaphysical  charac- 
ter of  that  school  ;  whic  h  yet  had  then  given  the 
law  to  the  scats  of  science  and  philosophy.  In- 
stead of  this,  w  e  see  every  where  the  copious,  dif- 
fusive, declaiming,  discursive  ;  but  sublime,  and 
wise,  and  effective  mind. 

There  is  a  true  apostolicism  in  the  character  of 
of  St.  Paul.    It  is  a  combination  of  zeal  and 

LOVE. 

The  zeal  of  some  men  is  of  a  haughty,  unbend- 
ing, ferocious  character.  They  have  the  letter  of 
truth,  hut  they  mount  the  pulpit  like  prize-fighters. 
It  is  with  them  a  perpetual  scold.  This  spirit 
is  a  reproach  to  the  gospel.  It  is  not  the  spirit  of 
Jesus  Christ.  He  scums  to  have  labored  to  win 
men. 

Hut  there  is  an  opposite  extreme.  The  love  of 
some  men  is  all  milk  and  mildness!  There  is  so 
much  delicacy,  and  so  much  fastidiousness!  They 
touch  with  such  tenderness! — and  if  the  patient 
shrinks  they  will  touch  no  more!  The  times 
are  too  flagrant  for  such  a  disposition.  The  Gos- 
pel is  sometimes  preached  in  this  way,  till  all  the 
people  agree  with  the  preacher.  He  gives  no  of- 
fence, and  he  does  no  good! 

But  St.  Paul  united  and  blended  love  and  zeal. 
He  must  win  souls:  but  he  will  labor  to  do  this 


201 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


by  all  possible  lawful  contrivances.  I  am  made  all 
things  to  all  men,  that  I  might  by  all  means  save 
some.  Zeal,  alone, may  degenerate  into  ferocious- 
ness and  brutality;  and  love,  alone,  into  fastidious- 
ness and  delicacy:  but  the  apostle  combined  both 
qualities  ;  and,  more  perfectly  than  other  men,  re- 
alized the  union  of  the  fortiterin  re  with  the  suav- 
iler  in  modo. 


Miscellanies. 

The  Moravians  seem  to  have  very  nearly  bit  on 
Christianity.  They  appear  to  have  found  out  what 
sort  of  a  thinjr  it  is — its  quietness — meekness — pa- 
tience— spirituality — heavenliness — and  order.  But 
they  want  fire.  A  very  superior  woman  among 
them  once  said  to  me — that  there  wanted  another 
body,  the  character  of  which  should  be  combined 
from  the  Moravians  and  the  Methodists.  The  Mo- 
ravians have  failed  in  making  too  little  of  preach- 
ing; as  the  Methodists  have  done,  in  making  too 
much  of  it. 

The  grandest  operations,  both  in  nature  and  in 
grace,  are  the  most  silent  and  imperceptible.  The 
shallow  brook  babbles  in  its  passage,  and  is  heard 
by  every  one:  but  the  coming  on  of  the  seasons  is 
silent  and  unseen.  The  storm  rages  and  alarms  ; 
but  its  fury  is  soon  exhausted,  and  its  effects  are 
partial  and  soon  remedied  :  but  the  dew,  though 
gentle  and  unheard,  is  immense  in  quantity,  and 
the  very  life  of  large  portions  of  the  earth.  And 
these  are  pictures  of  the  operations  of  grace,  in 
the  church  and  in  the  soul. 

Atheism  is  a  characteristic  of  our  clay.  On  the 
sentiments,  maimers,  pursuits,  amusements,  and 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


•2  ys 


dealings  of  the  great  body  of  mankind,  there  is 
written  in  broad  characters — icithout  Cod  M  the 
\eorid! 

I  have  often  had  occasion  to  observe,  that  a 
warm  blundering  man  does  more  for  the  world 
than  a  frigid  wise  man.  A  man,  who  efts  into  a 
habit  of  inquiring  about  proprieties  and  expedien- 
cies and  occasions,  often  spends  his  life  without 
doing  any  thing  to  purpose.  The  state  of  the  world 
is  such,  and  so  much  de|>ends  on  action,  that  every- 
thing seems  to  say  loudly  to  every  man,  "  Do  some- 
thing"— udo  it" — "do  it." 

Providence  is  a  greater  mystery  than  religion. 
The  state  of  the  world  is  more  humiliating  to  our 
reason,  than  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel.  A  re- 
flecting Christian  sees  more  to  excite  his  aston- 
ishment and  to  exercise  his  faith  in  the  state  of 
things  betweeu  Temple  Bar  and  St.  Paul's,  than  in 
what  he  reads  from  Genesis  to  Revelation.  See 
the  description  of  the  working  of  God's  Provi- 
dence, in  the  account  of  the  clierul ims  in  the  1st 
and  tenth  chapters  of  Ezekiel, 

The  scheme  and  machinery  of  redemption  may 
be  illustrated  by  the  water-works  at  Marly.  We 
consider  a  part  of  that  complicated  machinery,  and 
we  cannot  calculate  on  the  effects;  but  we  see 
that  they  are  produced.  We  cannot  explain  to  a 
philosopher  the  system  of  redemption,  and  the 
uiode  of  conducting  and  communicating  its  bene- 
fits to  the  human  soul  ;  hut  we  know  that  it  yields 
the  water  of  life-r-civilization,  to  a  barbarian- 
direction,  to  a  wanderer — support,  to  those  (hat  are 
ready  to  perish, 


206 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


It  is  manifest  that  God  designed  to  promote  in- 
tercourse and  commerce  among  men,  by  giving  to 
each  climate  its  appropriate  productions.  It  is  in 
iteelf,  not  only  innocent,  but  laudable.  All  trade, 
however,  which  is  founded  in  embellishment,  is 
founded  in  depravity.  So  also  is  that  spirit  of 
trade,  which  pushes  men  on  dangerous  competi- 
tions. Many  tradesmen,  professedly  religious, 
seem  to  look  on  their  trade  as  a  vast  engine,  which 
will  be  worked  to  no  good  effect,  if  it  be  not 
worked  with  the  whole  vigor  of  the  soul.  This  is 
an  intoxicating  and  ruinous  mistake.  So  far  as 
they  live  under  the  power  of  religion,  they  will 
pursue  their  trade  for  sustenance  and  provision  ; 
but  not  even  that,  with  unseasonable  atteniion  and 
with  eagerness:  much  less  will  religion  suffer 
them  to  bury  themselves  in  it,  when  its  objects 
are  some  thing  beyond  these:  and,  least  of  all, 
will  it  leave  them  to  deceive  themselves  with  cer- 
tain commercial  maxims,  so  far  removed  from  sim- 
plicity and  integrity  that  I  have  been  often  shock- 
ed beyond  measure,  at  hearing  them  countenanced 
and  adopted  by  some  religious  professors. 

Evert  man  should  aim  to  do  one  thing  well.  If 
he  dissipates  his  attention  on  several  objects  he 
may  have  excellent  talents  intrusted  to  him,  but 
they  will  bi;  intrusted  to  no  good  end.  Concen- 
trated on  his  proper  object,  they  might  have  a  vast 
energy;  but,  dissipated  on  several,  they  will  have 
none.  Let  other  objects  be  pursued,  indeed  ;  but 
only  so  far  as  they  may  subserve  the  main  purpose. 
By  neglecting  this  rule,  I  have  seen  frivolity,  and 
futility  written  on  minds  of  great  power;  and,  by 
regarding  it,  I  have  seen  very  limited  minds  acting 
in  the  first  rank  of  their  profession — I  have  seen  a 
targe  capital  end  a  great  stock  dissipated,  and  the 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


207 


man  reduced  to  beggary  ;  nnd  I  have  seen  a  small 
capital  and  stock  improved  to  great  riches. 

To  effect  any  purpose,  in  study,  the  mind  must 
be  concentrated.  If  any  other  subject  pl'iys  on 
the  fancy,  than  that  which  ought  to  be  exclusively 
before  it,  the  mind  is  divided  ;  and  both  are  neu- 
tralized, so  as  to  lose  their  effect.  Just  as  when  I 
learnt  two  systems  of  short-hand.  I  was  familiar 
with  Gurney's  method,  and  wrote  it  with  ease; 
but,  when  I  took  it  into  my  bead  to  learn  Byrom's, 
they  destroyed  each  other,  and  1  could  write 
neither. 

There  should  be  something  obvious,  determin- 
ate, and  positive,  in  a  man's  reasons  lor  taking  a 
journey;  especially  if  lie  be  a  minister.  Such 
events  and  consequences  may  be  connected  with 
it  in  every  step,  that  he  ought,  in  no  case,  to  be 
more  simply  dependent  on  the  great  Appoiuier  of 
means  and  occasions.  Several  journies  which  I 
thought  myself  called  on  to  take,  I  have  since  had 
reason  to  think  I  should  not  have  taken.  Nega- 
tive, and  even  doubtful  reasons,  may  justify  him  in 
choosing  the  safer  side  of  staying  at  home  ;  but 
there  ought  to  be  something  more  in  the  reasons 
which  put  him  out  of  his  way,  to  meet  the  un- 
known consequences  of  a  voluntary  change  of  sta- 
tion. Let  there  always  be  a  "  because"  to  meet 
the  "why?" 

I  sometimes  see,  as  I  sit  in  my  pew  at  St. 
John's  during  the  service,  an  idle  fellow  saunter 
into  the  chapel.  He  gapes  about  him  for  a  few 
minutes:  finds  nothing  to  interest  and  arrest  him, 
seems  scarcely  to  understand  what  is  going  for- 
ward ;  and,  after  a  lounge  or  two,  goes  out  again. 
I  look  at  him,  and  think,  "Thou  art  a  wonderful 


208 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


creature  !  A  perfect  miracle  !  What  a  machine  is 
that  body  !  curiously, — fearfully, — wonderfully 
framed  !  An  intricate — delicate — but  harmonious 
and  perfect  structure  !  And,  then,  to  ascend  to  thy 
soul ! — its  nature  ! — its  capacities! — its  actual  state  ! 
its  designation  ! — its  eternal  condition  ! — I  am  lost 
in  amazement ! — While  he  seems  to  have  no  more 
consciousness  of  all  this  than  the  brutes  which  per- 
ish V 

Sin,  pursued  to  its  tendencies,  would  pull  God 
from  his  throne.  Though  I  have  a  deep  convic- 
tion of  its  exceeding  sinfulness,  I  live  not  a  week 
without  seeing  some  exhibition  of  its  malignity 
which  draws  from  me — "Well!  who  could  have 
imagined  this!"  Sin  would  subjugate  heaven, 
earth,  and  hell  to  itself.  It  would  make  the  uni- 
verse the  minion  of  its  lusts,  and  all  beings  bow 
down  and  worship. 

It  is  one  of  the  most  awful  points  of  view  in 
which  we  can  consider  God,  that,  as  a  righteous 
governor  of  the  world,  concerned  to  vindicate  his 
own  glory,  he  has  laid  himself  under  a  kind  of  ho- 
ly necessity  to  purify  the  unclean,  or  to  sink  him 
into  perdition. 

It  is  one  of  the  curses  of  error,  that  the  man, 
who  is  the  subject  of  it,  if  he  has  had  the  opportu- 
nity of  being  better  informed,  cannot  possibly  do 
right,  so  far  as  he  is  under  it.  He  has  brought 
himself  into  an  utter  incapacity  of  acting  virtuous- 
ly ;  since  it  is  vicious  to  obey  an  ill-informed  con- 
science, if  that  conscience  might  have  been  better 
informed;  and  certainly  vicious  to  disobey  con- 
science, whether  it  be  well  or  ill  informed. 


REMAINS   OF  MR.  CKCIL. 


209 


The  approaches  of  sin  are  like  the  conduct  of 
Jael.  It  brings  butter  in  a  lordly  dish.  It  bids 
high  for  the  soul.  But  when  it  lias  fascinated 
and  lulled  the  victim,  the  nail  and  the  hammer  are 
behind. 

I  have  met  with  one  case  in  my  ministry,  very 
frequent  and  very  distressing.  A  man  says  to  me, 
"  I  approve  all  you  say.  I  see  things  to  be  just  as 
you  state  them.  I  see  a  necessity,  a  propriety,  a 
beauty  in  the  religion  of  Christ.  I  see  it  to  be  in- 
teresting and  important.  But  I  do  not  feel  it.  I 
cannot  feel  it.  1  have  no  spirit  of  prayer.  My 
heart  belies  my  head  :  its  affections  refuse  to  fol- 
low my  convictions."  If  this  complaint  be  ingen- 
uous, it  is  an  evidence  of  grace;  and  I  say,  "Wait 
for  God,  and  he  will  appear."  But,  too  often,  it  is 
not  ingenuous  :  the  heart  is  actually  indisposed: 
some  tyrant  holds  it  in  bondage.  The  complaint 
is  a  mockery — because  there  is  no  sincerity  of  en- 
deavor to  obtain  the  object  of  which  it  pretends 
to  lament  the  want — there  is  no  sincere  desire  and 
prayer  for  the  quickening  and  breathing  of  God's 
Holy  Spirit  on  the  torpid  soul. 

The  man  who  labors  to  please  his  neighbor  for 
his  good  to  edification,  has  the  mind  that  was  in  Christ. 
It  is  a  sinner  trying  to  help  a  sinner.  How  differ- 
ent the  face  of  things  if  this  spirit  prevailed  ! — If 
Dissenters  were  like  Henry,  and  Watts,  and  Dod- 
dridge :  and  churchmen  like  Leighton!  The  man 
who  comes  prominently  forward  in  any  way  may 
expect  to  be  found  fault  with  :  one  will  call  him 
harsh,  and  another  a  trimmer.  A  hard  man  may 
be  reverenced,  but  men  will  like  him  best  at  a  dis- 
tance :  he  is  an  iron  man:  he  is  not  like  Jesus 
Christ:  Christ  might  have  driven  Thomas  from 
his  presence  for  his  unreasonable  incredulity — but 


210 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL* 


not  so  !  It  is  as  though  he  had  said,  "  I  will  come 
down  to  thy  weakness:  if  thou  canst  not  believe 
without  thrusting  thy  hand  into  my  side,  then 
thrust  in  thy  hand."  Even  a  feeble,  but  kind  and 
tender  man,  will  effect  more  than  a  genius,  who  is 
rough  or  artificial.  There  is  danger,  doubtless,  of 
humoring  others,  and  against  this  we  must  be  on 
our  guard.  It  is  a  kind  and  accommodating  spirit 
at  which  we  must  aim.  When  the  two  goats  met 
on  the  bridge  which  was  too  narrow  to  allow  them 
either  to  pass  each  other,  or  to  return,  the  goat 
which  lay  down  that  the  other  might  walk  over 
him,  was  a  finer  gentleman  than  Lord  Chesterfield. 

To  expect  disease  wherever  he  goes,  and  to  lay 
himself  out  in  the  application  of  remedies,  is  that 
habit  of  mind  which  is  best  suited  to  a  Christian 
while  he  passes  through  the  world,  if  he  would  be 
most  effectually  useful. 

The  Papists  and  Puritans  erred  in  opposite  ex- 
tremes, in  their  treatment  of  mankind.  Tiie  pa- 
pists, almost  to  a  man,  considered  the  mass  of 
men  as  mere  animals,  and  to  be  led  by  the  senses. 
Even  Fetyfion  fell  into  this  way  of  thinking.  Some 
few  fine  spirits  were  to  be  found,  which  were  ca- 
pable of  other  treatment :  but  the  herd  they  thought 
capable  of  nothing  but  seeing  and  hearing.  The 
puritans,  on  the  contrary,  treated  man  as  though 
he  had  nothing  of  the  animal  about  him.  There 
was  among  them  a  total  excision  of  all  amusement 
and  recreation.  Every  thing  was  effort.  Every 
thing  was  se»ere.  I  have  heard  a  man  of  this 
school  preach  on  the  distinction  between  justify- 
ing and  saving  faith.  He  tried  to  make  his  hear- 
ers enter  into  these  niceties;  whereas,  faith  in  its 
bold  and  leading  features,  should  have  been  present- 
ed to  them,  if  any  effect  was  expected.    The  bulk  of 


RKMA1.VS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


211 


mankind  are  capable  of  much  more  than  the  Pa- 
pist allows,  but  are  incapable  of  that  which  the 
Puritan  supposes.  They  should  be  treated,  in  op- 
position to  both,  as  rational  and  feeling  creatures, 
but  upon  a  bold  and  palpable  ground. 

I  have  seen  such  sin  in  the  church,  that  I  have 
been  often  brought  by  it  to  a  sickly  state  of  mind. 
But,  when  I  have  turned  to  the  world,  I  have  seen 
sin  working  there  in  such  measures  and  forms,  that 
I  have  turned  back  again  to  the  church  with  more 
wisdom  of  mind  and  more  affection  to  it — tainted 
as  it  is.  I  see  sin,  however,  no  where  put  on  such 
an  odious  appearance  as  in  the  church.  It  mixes 
itself  with  the  most  holy  thing?,  and  debases  them, 
and  turns  them  to  its  own  purposes.  It  builds  its 
nest  in  the  very  pinnacles  of  the  temple.  The  his- 
tory of  the  primitive  ages  of  the  church  has  also 
checked  the  disgust  which  would  arise  from  seeing 
the  impure  state  of  things  before  our  eyes.  Folly 
and  wickedness  sported  themselves  even  then  in 
almost  all  possible  forms.  I  turn,  in  such  states  of 
mind,  to  two  portraits  in  my  study — John  Bradford 
and  Aph.  Leiuhtun.  These  never  fail,  in  such 
cases,  to  speak  forcibly  to  my  heart,  that,  in  the 
midst  of  all,  there  is  pure  religion,  and  to  tell  me 
what  that  religion  is. 

The  joy  of  religion  is  an  exorcist  to  the  mind. 
It  expels  the  demons  of  carnal  mirth  and  madness. 

The  union  of  Christians  to  Christ,  their  common 
bead;  and,  by  means  of  the  influence  which  they 
derive  from  him,  one  to  another,  may  be  illustra- 
ted by  the  loadstone.  It  not  only  attracts  the  par- 
ticles of  iron  to  itself,  by  the  magnetic  virtue  ;  but 
by  this  virtue,  it  unites  them  one  among  another. 


212 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


Some  considerable  defect  is  always  visible,  in 
the  greatest  men,  to  a  discerning  eye.  We  idolize 
the  best  characters,  because  we  see  them  partially. 
Let  us  acknowledge  excellence,  and  ascribe  the 
glory  where  it  is  due,  while  we  honor  ihe  posses- 
or:  but  let  us  remember  that  God  has,  by  leaving 
his  greatest  servants  to  the  natural  operation  of 
human  frailty  in  some  point  or  other  of  their  char- 
acter written  on  the  face  of  the  Christian  Church, 
Cease  ye  from  man !  He  does,  by  perfection  in 
character,  as  he  did  by  the  body  of  Moses — he 
hides  it,  that  it  may  not  be  idolized.  Our  affec- 
tions, our  prejudices,  or  our  ignorance,  cover  the 
creature  with  a  dazzling  veil  :  but  he  lifts  it  up; 
and  seems  to  say,  "see  the  creature  you  admire  !" 

A  man,  who  thinks  himself  to  have  attained 
Christian  perfection,  in  the  sense  in  which  it  has 
been  insisted  on  by  some  persons,  either  deceives 
himself,  by  calling  sin,  infirmity — or  Satan  leaves 
him  undisturbed  in  false  security — or  the  demon  ot 
pride  overcomes  the  demon  of  lust. 

The  trials  of  the  tempted  Christian  are  often 
sent  for  the  use  of  others,  and  are  made  the  ricbes 
of  all  around  him, 

If  I  were  not  penetrated  with  a  conviction  of 
the  truth  of  the  Bible,  and  the  reality  of  my  own 
experience,  I  should  be  confounded  on  all  sides — 
from  within,  and  from  without — in  the  world,  and 
in  the  church. 

If  a  good  man  cannot  prevent  evil,  he  will  hong 
heavy  on  its  wings,  and  retard  its  progress. 

We  are  too  much  disposed  to  look  at  the  out- 
side of  things.    The  face  of  every  affair  chiefly  a  f- 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


213 


fects  us.  Were  God  to  draw  aside  the  veil,  and  to 
shew  us  hut  a  little  of  the  reality,  and  the  relations 
of  the  most  apparently  mysterious  and  complica- 
ted dispensations,  we  should  acquiesce  with  rev- 
erence ami  admiration.  A  minister,  for  example, 
may  he  taken  away  in  the  beginning  of  a  promis- 
ing career,  or  in  the  midst  of  great  usefulness.  If 
we  cannot  perceive  any  direct  reason  for  this 
Providence,  we  stand  amazed.  But,  if  we  could 
look  forward  into  the  farther  life  of  such  men,  we 
should  probably  see  that  they  were  taken  away 
in  mercy  to  themselves — to  the  church — or  to  the 
world. 

I  have  seen  too  much  of  life,  to  have  any  thing 
to  do  in  the  troubled  waters  ol  my  friends,  by  way 
of  giving  advice;  unless  they  will  allow  tne  to  re- 
main in  secret.  This  especially  applies  to  some 
Christians  of  more  sincerity  than  prudence.  An 
opinion  given  on  difficult  and  controverted  cases, 
in  confidence  of  its  being  used  only  as  a  private 
principle  of  action,  has  been  quoted  as  authority  in 
defence  of  the  conduct  founded  on  it. 

Many  duties  arc  involved  on  the  very  nature  of 
religion,  concerning  which  there  is  perhaps  not 
one  express  precept  to  be  found  in  the  Scriptures. 
Private,  family,  or  public  devotions,  are  no  where 
enjoined,  as  to  the  time,  or  frequency,  or  manner 
of  performing  them.  Yet  they  are  so  strongly  im- 
plied in  the  very  nature  of  religion,  and  they  are 
supposed  so  necessarily  to  flow  from  the  divine 
principle  of  spiritual  life  in  the  soul,  that  those  men 
greatly  err,  who  think  themselves  not  obliged  by 
their  religion  to  the  most  diligent  use  of  them  that 
circumstances  will  allow.  And,  surely,  we  may 
trace  here  the  footsteps  of  divine  wisdom.  If  it 
had  been  said,  "Thou  shalt  do  this  or  that,  at  such 


214 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


nnd  such  times,"  this  would  have  brought  a  yoke 
on  the  neck  of  the  Christian;  and,  even  when  ab- 
solutely unavoidable  circumstances  prevented  him 
from  complying  with  the  injunction,  would  have 
left  sin  on  his  conscience.  While  the  way  in 
which  the  duty  is  enforced  leaves  him  a  Christian 
liberty  that  is  abundantly  guarded  against  all  li- 
centiousness, fie  sees  the  duty  implied  and  exem- 
plified in  a  thousand  instances  throughout  the 
Scripture.  The  same  principle  is  applicable  to 
certain  pursuits,  which  occupy  the  men  of  the 
world  j  the  general  unlawfulness  of  which  is  fully 
implied,  though  they  neither  are  nor  could  have 
been  forbidden  by  name.* 

Nothing  seems  important  to  me  but  so  far  as  it 
is  connected  with  morals.  The  end — the  cui  bono  ? 
—enters  into  my  view  of  everything.  Even  the 
highest  acts  of  the  intellect  become  criminal  tri- 
fling, when  they  occupy  much  of  the  time  of  a 
moral  creature,  and  especially  of  a  minister.  If 
the  mind  cannot  feel  and  treat  mathematics  and 
music  and  every  thing  else  as  a  trifle,  it  has  been 
seduced  and  enslaved.  Brainerd,  and  Grimshaw, 
and  Fletcher,  were  men.  Most  of  us  are  dwarfs. 

In  imitating  examples,  there  are  two  rules  to  be 
regarded  :  we  must  not  stretch  ours  beyond  our 
measure:  nor  must  we  despise  that  in  another, 
which  is  unsuitable  to  ourselves. 

A  piece  has  been  written  to  prove  that  the  Gos- 
pel is  preached  to  sinners,  only  in  the  lowest  stale 

*  See  tins  idea  illustrated  with  regard  ti  Articles  of 
Faith  in  Jones's  "  Short  view  of  the  argument  between 
the  church  of  EnjlanH  and  Dissenters,"  in  the  "  Scholar 
Armed."    Vol.  ii.  p.  59.    J.  P. 


REMAINS   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


of  misery  and  imbecility.  Some  men  get  hold  of  nn 
opinion,  and  push  it  so  far  tliat  it  meets  and  contra- 
dicts other  opinions,  fairly  dediicihle  from  Scrip- 
ture. And  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  with  them  to 
suppose,  that  nobody  else  holds  the  same  opinion  ; 
when,  if  they  would  look  into  the  minds  of  other 
men,  they  would  find  themselves  deceived.  We 
preach  the  Gospel  to  sinners  in  the  lowest  condi- 
tion ;  and  the  only  reason  I  do  not  preach  it  to 
devils,  is,  that  I  find  no  gospel  provided  for  devils. 
As  to  the  Roman  Catholic  notion  of  a  grace  of  con- 
gruity,  in  their  sense  of  it,  1  utterly  disclaim  it. 
Some  of  the  hest  of  them  taught  that  God  prepar- 
ed the  heart  fur  himself  in  various  unseen  ways. 
And  who  can  deny  this  ?  hut  this  is  far  different 
from  the  notion,  that  some  minds  have  a  natural 
congruity  or  suitableness  to  tlx-  Gospel.  The  fal- 
low-ground of  the  heart  may  he  broken  up.  plough- 
ed, and  prepared  by  unseen  and  most  circuitous 
means.  I  have  gone  from  hearing  a  man  preach 
incomparable  nonsense  who  knew  spiritual  reli- 
gion, to  hearing  a  man  of  a  carnal  mind  and  habits 
who  knew  nothing  of  spiritual  religion  preach  in- 
comparable sense,  and  I  thought  the  carnal  preach- 
er much  most  likely  to  call  men  to  some  feeling  of 
religion. 

The  imagination  is  th?  grand  organ,  whereby 
truth  can  make  successful  approaches  to  the  mind. 
Some  preachers  deal  much  with  the  passions  :  they 
attack  the  hopes  and  fears  of  men.  But  this  is  a 
very  different  thing  from  the  right  use  of  the  im- 
agination, as  the  medium  of  impressing  truth.  Je- 
sus Christ  has  left  perfect  patterns  of  this  way  of 
managing  men. — But  it  is  a  distinct  talent,  and  a 
talent  committed  to  very  few.  It  is  an  easy  thing 
to  move  the  passions:  a  rude,  blunt,  illiterate  at- 
tack may  do  this.    But,  to  form  one  new  figure  for 


216 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


the  conveyance  of  truth  to  the  mind,  is  a  difficult 
thing.  The  world  is  under  no  small  obligation  to 
the  man  who  forms  such  a  figure.  The  French 
strain  this  point  so  far  that  the  effort  is  continually 
seen.  To  he  effective — there  must  he  about  it  a 
naivete — an  ease — a  self-evidence.  The  figures  of 
the  French  writers  vanish  from  the  mind,  like  the 
flourish  of  a  musical  band.  The  figures  of  Jesus 
Christ  sink  into  the  mind,  and  leave  there  the  in- 
delible impress  of  the  truth  which,  they  convey. 

The  religious  world  has  a  great  momentum. — 
Money  and  power  in  almost  any  quantity,  are 
brought  forth  into  action,  when  any  fair  object  is 
set  before  it.  It  is  a  pendulum,  that  swings  with 
prodigious  force.  But  it  wants  a  regulator.  If 
there  is  no  regulating  force  on  it  of  sufficient  pow- 
er, its  motions  will  be  so  violent  and  eccentric,  that 
it  will  tear  the  machine  to  pieces.  And,  therefore, 
when  I  have  any  influence  in  its  designs  and 
schemes,  I  cannot  help  watching  them  with  ex- 
treme jealousy,  to  throw  in  every  directing  and 
regulating  power  which  can  be  obtained  from  auy 
quarter. 

Nothing  can  be  proposed  so  wild  or  so  absurd,  as 
not  to  find  a  party — and  often  a  very  large  party 
— ready  to  espouse  it.  It  is  a  sad  reflection  on 
human  nature,  but  it  is  too  true.  Every  day's  ex- 
perience and  history  confirm  it.  It  would  have 
argued  gross  ignorance  of  mankind  to  expect  even 
Swedenborgianism  to  be  rejected  at  once  by  the 
common  sense  of  men.  He,  who  laid  the  snare, 
knew  that  if  a  few  characters  of  some  learning  and 
respectability  could  be  brought  to  espouse  it,  there 
would  be  soon  a  silly  multitude  ready  to  fol- 
low. 


REMAINS   OF   NR.  CECIL. 


217 


The  religions  world  has  many  features,  which 
arc  distressing  to  a  holy  man.  He  sees  in  it  much 
proposal  and  ostentation,  covering  much  sin  lace. 
But  Christianity  is  deep  and  substantial.  A  man 
is  soon  enlisted  ;  but  be  is  not  soon  made  a  soldier. 
He  is  easily  put  into  the  ranks,  to  make  a  show 
there  ;  but  be  is  not  so  easily  brought  to  do  the 
duties  of  the  ranks.  We  are  too  much  like  an 
army  of  Asiatics;  they  count  well,  and  cut  a  good 
figure  ;  but  when  they  come  into  action,  one  has 
no  flint,  another  has  no  cartridge — the  arms  of  one 
are  rusty,  and  another  has  not  learnt  to  handle  them. 
This  was  not  the  complaint  equally  at  all  times.  It 
belongs  too  peculiarly  to  the  present  day.  The  fault 
lies  in  the  muster.  We  are  like  Falstnff.  He  took 
the  king's  money  to  press  good  men  and  true,  but 
got  together  such  ragamuffins  that  he  was  asham- 
ed to  muster  them.  What  is  the  consequence? 
People  groan  under  their  connections.  Respecta- 
ble persons  tell  me  such  stories  of  their  servants 
who  profess  religion,  as  to  shame  and  distress  me. 
High  pretensions  to  spirituality!  Warm  zeal  for 
certain  sentiments!  Priding  themselves  in  Mr. 
Suc.h-a-one's  ministry  !  But  what  becomes  of  their 
duties?— Oh  these  are  "beggarly  elements"  in- 
deed! Such  persons  are  alive  to  religious  talk  ; 
but,  if  you  speak  to  them  on  religious  tempers. 
the  subject  grows  irksome. 

Admiration  and  feeling  are  very  distinct  from 
each  other.  Some  music  and  oratory  enchant  and 
astonish,  but  they  speak  not  to  the  heart.  I  have 
been  overwhelmed  by  Handel's  music:  the  Det- 
tingen  Te  Deum  is  perhaps,  the  greatest  composi- 
tion in  the  world  :  yet  I  never,  in  my  life,  heard 
Handel,  but  I  could  think  of  something  else  at  the 
same  time.  There  is  a  kind  of  music  that  will  not 
T 


•218 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


allow  this.  Dr.  Worgan  has  so  touched  the  organ 
at  St.  John's,  that  I  have  been  turning  backward 
and  forward  over  the  Prayer  Book  lor  the  first 
lesson  in  Isaiah,  and  wondered  that  I  could  not  find 
Isaiah  there  !  The  musician  and  the  orator  fall  short 
of  the  full  power  of  their  science,  if  the  hearer  is 
left  in  possession  of  himself. 

The  church  of  England  is  not  fitted  in  its  pres- 
ent state,  for  a  general  church.  lis  secularity  must 
be  purged  away.  We  shall  hasten  that  day  when 
Christians  shall  be  of  one  heart  and  one  mind,  if 
we  inculcate  the  spirit  of  charity  in  our  respective 
circles.  I  have  aimed  much  at  this  point,  and 
shall  push  it  farther.  The  rest  must  be  left  to 
Providence.  He  only  can,  by  unknown  means, 
heal  the  schisms  of  the  church,  and  unite  it  togeth- 
er as  one  external  body  :  and  that  this  will  be  done 
as  some  think,  by  persecution,  appears  highly 
probable.  I  see  no  ether  means  adequate  to  the 
end. 

Htpocrisi  is  folly.  It  is  much  easier,  safer,  and 
pleasanter,  to  be  the  thing  which  a  man  aims  to  ap- 
pear, than  to  keep  up  the  appearance  of  being 
what  he  is  not.  When  a  Christian  is  truly  such 
he  acts  from  a  nature — a  new  nature — and  all  the 
actings  of  that  nature  have  the  ease  and  pleasant- 
ness and  nature  in  them. 

Humiliation  is  the  spirit  of  our  dispensation — 
not  a  creeping,  servile,  canting  humility:  hut  an 
entire  self-renunciation.  The  Mystics  often  talk 
admirably  on  the  subject.  Pride  is  the  most  uni- 
versal and  inveterate  of  all  vires.  Every  man  is 
a  proud  man,  though  all  are  not  equally  proud. 
No  sin  harasses  the  Christian  so  much,  nor  accom- 
panies him  so  unwearicdly.    Its  forms  of  exhibit- 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


219 


ing  itself  are  infinitely  varied,  and  none  are  more 
common  than  the  affectation  of  humility.  The 
assumption  of  the  garb  of  humility,  in  all  its  shades 
is  generally  but  an  expression  of  a  proud  mind, 
Pride  is  the  master-sin  of  the  spirit;  and  the  grace 
of  God,  in  the  whole  tenor  of  our  dispensation,  is 
directed  against  it. 

I  extend  the  circle  of  real  religion  very  widely. 
Many  men  fear  God,  and  love  God,  and  have  a  sin- 
cere desire  to  serve  him,  whose  views  of  religious 
truth  are  very  imperfect,  and  in  some  points  per- 
haps utterly  false.  But  I  doubt  not  that  many  such 
persons  have  a  state  of  heart  acceptable  before 
God. 

Man  is  a  creature  of  extremes.  The  middle 
path  is  generally  the  wise  path  ;  but  there  are 
few  wise  enough  to  find  it.  Because  Papists 
have  made  too  much  of  some  thincs,  Protestants 
have  made  too  little  of  them.  The  Papists  treat 
man  as  all  sense  ;  and,  therefore,  some  Protestants 
would  treat  him  as  all  spirit.  Because  one  party 
has  exalted  the  virgin  Mary  to  a  divinity,  the  oth- 
er can  scarcely  think  of  that  most  highly  favored 
among  women  with  common  respect.  The  Papist 
puts  the  Apocrypha  into  his  canon — the  Protestant 
will  scarcely  regard  it  as  an  ancient  record.  The 
Popish  heresy  of  human  merit  in  justification, 
drove  Luther  on  the  other  side  into  most  unwar- 
rantable and  unscriptural  statements  of  that  doc- 
trine. The  Papists  consider  grace  as  inseparable 
from  the  participation  of  the  sacraments — the  Prot- 
estants too  often  lose  sight  of  them  as  instituted 
means  of  conveying  grace. 

The  language  of  irreligion  in  the  heart,  is,  "  give 
— give — now — now — whatever  the  flesh  and  the 


:>20 


REMAINS  OF   MR.  CECIL- 


eye  lust  after,  and  whatever  gratifies  the  pride  of 
life.  Give  it  now — for,  as  to  any  reversion,  I  will 
not  sacrifice  a  single  lust  for  it  ;  or  if  1  must  have 
a  religion,  it  shall  be  any  thing  rather  than  that 
demeaning  system  which  makes  every  thing  a 
mere  boon." 

Instead  of  attempting  any  logical  and  meta- 
physical explanation  of  justification  by  the  im- 
puted righteousness  of  Christ,  all  which  attempts 
have  human  infirmity  stamped  upon  them,  I  would 
look  at  the  subject  in  the  great  and  impressive 
light  in  which  scripture  places  it  before  me.  It 
teaches  me  to  regard  the  intervention  of  Christ  for 
me,  as  the  sole  ground  of  all  expectation  toward 
God.  In  consideration  of  his  sufferings,  my  guilt 
is  remitted,  and  I  am  restored,  to  that  which  I  had 
lost  by  sin.  Let  us  add  to  this,  that  the  sufferings 
of  Christ  were  in  our  stead,  and  we  shall  see  the 
point  of  view  in  which  Scripture  sets  him  forth  as 
the  deserver  and  procurer  to  us  of  all  pardon  and 
grace.  The  thing  is  declared — not  explained.  Let 
us  not  therefore  darken  a  subject  which  is  held 
forth  in  a  prominent  light,  by  our  idle  endeavors 
to  make  it  better  understood. 

Regeneration  and  conversion  may  be  distin- 
guished from  each  other,  though  they  cannot  be 
separated.  They  may  be  distinguished;  as  a 
man's  being  disposed  to  go  in  a  certain  road,  and 
his  actually  going  in  that  road,  may  be  distinguish- 
ed :  for  regeneration  is  God's  disposing  the  heart 
to  himself:  but  conversion  is  the  actual  turning  of 
the  heart  to  God. 

There  is  an  immeasurable  distance  between  the 
genuine  and  the  spurious  Christian.  The  genuine 
Christian  may  be  weak,  wild,  eccentric,  fanatical. 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


221 


faulty ;  but  he  is  right-hearted  :  you  find  the  root  of 
the  matter  in  him.  The  spurious  Christian  is  the 
most  dangerous  of  men,  and  one  of  the  most  diffi- 
cult to  deal  with.  You  see  what  he  is,  but  you 
find  it  almost  impossible  to  keep  clear  of  him.  He 
will  seek  your  acquaintance,  in  order  to  authenti- 
cate his  own  character — to  indorse  his  own  repu- 
tation. But  avoid  him.  His  errors  and  vices  will 
be  assigned  to  the  church,  by  an  indiscriminating 
world.  There  is  less  danger  in  associating  with 
worldly  people  by  profession,  and  more  tenderness 
to  be  exercised  toward  them.  St.  Paul  teaches  us 
the  distinction,  J  Cor.  v.  9 — 11. 

I  feel  disposed  to  treat  carnal  men  and  carnal 
ministers  with  tenderness,  not  to  show  them  that 
1  am  a  spiritually  proud  man.  Let  tliem  see  that 
you  have  some  secret  in  possession,  which  keeps 
you  quiet,  humble,  patient,  holy,  meek,  and  affec- 
tionate, in  a  turbulent  and  passionate  world. 

The  character  of  Balaam  is  not  uncommon  in 
the  church.  I  have  been  amazed  to  see  religious 
professors,  whose  ungodly  character  has  been 
known  and  read  of  all  men,  who  have  neverthe- 
less entertained  a  good  opinion  of  themselves.  I 
have  accounted  for  it,  by  supposing  that  they  build 
entirely  on  the  distinction  of  their  views  of  truth 
from  those  of  other  men.  They  "know  the  points  ; 
they  see  the  distinctions:  and,  moreover,  they  ap- 
prove what  they  know,  and  desire  to  dio  the  death 
of  the  righteous  and  be  where  they  are — and,  cer- 
tainly, they  must  be  the  men  of  God's  council,  and 
the  men  who  stand  on  his  side  against  the  world  !" 

I  have  long  adopted  an  expedient,  which  I  have 
found  of  singular  service.  1  have  a  6helf  in  my 
study,  for  tried  authors;  and  one  in  my  mind,  for 
tried  principles  and  characters. 


222 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


When  an  author  has  stood  a  thorough  exami- 
nation, and  will  bear  to  be  taken  as  a  guide,  I  put 
him  on  the  shelf! 

When  I  have  more  fully  made  up  my  mind  on  a 
principle,  1  put  it  on  the  shelf!  A  hundred  subtle 
objections  may  be  brought  against  this  principle: 
I  may  meet  with  some  of  them,  perhaps;  but  my 
principle  is  on  the  shelf!  Generally,  I  may  be  able 
to  recal  the  reasons  which  weighed  with  me  to  put  it 
there  :  but  if  not, I  am  not  to  he  sent  out  to  sea  again. 
Time  was,  when  1  saw  through  and  detected  all  the 
subtleties  that  could  be  brought  against  it.  I  have 
past  evidence  of  having  been  fully  convinced  :  and 
there  on  the  shelf  it  shall  lie! 

When  I  have  turned  a  character  over  and 
over  on  all  sides,  and  seen  it  through  and  through 
in  all  situations,  I  put  it  on  the  shelf.  There  may 
be  conduct  in  the  person  which  may  stumble  oth- 
ers :  there  may  be  great  inconsistencies :  there 
may  be  strange  and  unaccountable  turns— but  I 
have  put  that  character  on  the  shelf :  difficulties 
will  all  be  cleared  up  :  every  thing  will  come  round 
again.  I  should  be  much  chagrined,  indeed,  to  be 
obliged  to  take  a  character  down  which  I  had  once 
put  up;  but  that  has  never  been  the  case  with  me 
yet ;  and  the  best  guard  against  it,  is — not  to  be 
too  hasty  in  putting  them  there. 

Influence,  whether  derived  from  money,  tal- 
ents or  connexions,  is  power  :  there  is  no  person 
so  insignificant,  but  he  fins  much  of  this  power: 
the  little  Israelite  maid,  in  Naaman's  family,  is  an 
instance:  some,indeed, suppose  that  they  have  more 
power  than  they  really  have  ;  hut  we  generally 
think  we  have  less  than  we  in  reality  have.  Who- 
ever neglects  or  misapplies  this  power,  is  an  un- 
profitable servant ;  unbelief,  timidity,  and  delica- 
cy often  cramp  its  exertion  ;  but  it  is  our  dutv  to 


REMAINS    OF   MR.   CECIL.  223 

call  ourselves  out  to  the  exertion  of  this  power,  as 
Mordecai  calleil  out  Esther  (ch.  iv.  :)  it  is  our  duty 
to  watch  against  every  tiling  that  might  hinder  or 
pervert  our  influence  :  for  mere  regard  to  reputa- 
tion will  often  carry  many  into  error:  who  would 
not  follow  Aaron  in  worshipping  the  golden  calf? 
Even  men  of  feeble  public  talents  may  acquire  much 
influence  by  kindness  and  consistency  of  char- 
acter: ministers  are  defective  in  resting  their  per- 
sonal influence  too  much  on  their  public  ministry  : 
time  will  give  weight  to  a  man's  character  ;  and  it 
is  one  advantage  to  a  man  to  be  cast  early  into  his 
situation,  that  he  may  earn  a  chaiacter. 

The  instances  of  artifice  which  occur  in  scrip- 
ture are  not  to  he  imitated,  but  avoided  :  if  Abra- 
ham, or  Isaac,  or  Jacob  equivocate  in  order  to  ob- 
tain their  ends,  this  is  no  warrant  to  me  to  do  so  : 
David's  falsehood  concerning  Goliath's  sword  ar- 
gued distrust  of  God.  If  any  part  of  the  truth 
which  I  am  bound  to  communicate  he  concealed, 
this  is  sinful  artifice  :  the  Jesuits  in  China,  in  order 
to  remove  the  offence  of  the  cross,  declared  that  it 
was  a  falsehood  invented  by  the  Jews  that  Christ 
was  crucified  ;  but  they  were  expelled  from  the 
empire:  and  this  was  designed,  perhaps,  to  be  held 
up  as  a  warning  to  all  missionaries,  that  no  good 
end  is  to  be  carried  by  artifice. 

But  aduress  is  of  a  different  nature.  There  is 
no  falsehood,  deception,  or  equivocation  in  address. 
St.  Paul,  for  instance,  employed  lawful  address, 
and  not  artifice,  when  he  set  the  Saddueees  and 
Pharisees  at  variance:  he  employed  a  la  wful  argu- 
ment to  interest  the  Pharisees  in  his  favor:  this 
was  great  address,  but  it  had  nothing  of  criminal 
artifice.  In  Joshua's  ambushes  for  the  men  of  Ai 
there  was  nothing  sinful:  it  was  a  lawful  strata- 
gem of  war  :  it  would  have  been  unlawful  to  tell 


22  1 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


the  men  of  Ai  there  was  nn  ambush  :  but  they 
knew  that  they  came  out  of  their  city  liable  to 
such  ambushes.  Christ's  conduct  at  Emmaus, and 
that  of  the  angels  of  Sodom,  were  meant  as  trials 
of  the  regard  of  those  with  whom  they  were  con- 
versing. 

Precipitation  is  acting  witho.it  sufficient 
grounds  of  action.  Youth  is  the  peculiar  season  of 
precipitation  :  the  young  man's  motto  is  "  onward  !" 
There  is  no  such  effectual  cure  of  this  evil,  as  ex- 
perience :  when  a  man  is  made  to  feel  the  effects 
of  his  precipitation,  both  in  body  and  mind  :  and 
God  alone  can  thus  bring  a  man  acquainted  with 
himself.  There  is  a  self-blindness  in  precipita- 
tion: a  precipitate  man  is,  at  the  time,  a  blind 
man:  That  be  far  from  thee!  said  St.  Peter  :  this 
shall  not  happen  to  thee.  As  the  Lord  liveth,  said 
David,  the  man  that  hath  done  this  thing  shall  surely 
die  ! 

There  is  great  criminality  in  precipitation.  A 
man  under  its  influence  is  continually  tempted  to 
take  God's  work  out  of  his  hands.  It  is  not  a  state 
of  dependence.  It  betrays  want  of  patience  with 
respect  to  God:  and  want  of  faith  :  Ishall  one  day 
perish  by  the  hand  of  Saul.  It  discovers  a  want  of 
charity:  in  a  rash  moment  we  may  do  an  injury 
to  our  neighbor,  which  we  can  never  repair. 

There  are  few,  who  do  not  feel  that  they  are 
suffering  through  life  the  effects  of  their  own  pre- 
cipitation. He,  then,  that  trusteth  his  oicn  heart,  is  a 
fool.  In  precipitate  moments  we  should  learn  to 
say,  "  I  am  not  now  the  man  to  give  an  opinion,  or 
to  take  a  single  step  !" 

Method,  as  Mrs.  More  says,  is  the  very  hinge 
of  business :  and  there  is  no  method  without 
punctuality.    Punctuality  is  important,  because 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


225 


it  subserves  the  peace  and  good  temper  of  a  fami- 
ly :  the  want  of  it  not  only  infringes  on  necessary 
duty,  but  sometimes  excludes  this  duty.  Punctu- 
ality is  important  as  it  gains  time:  it  is  like  pack- 
ing things  in  a  box:  a  good  packer  will  get  in  half 
as  much  more  as  a  bad  one.  The  calmness  of 
mind  which  it  produces,  is  another  advantage  of 
punctuality:  a  disorderly  man  is  always  in  n  hur- 
ry :  lie  has  no  time  to  speak  with  you,  because  he 
is  going  elsewhere;  and  when  he  gets  there,  he  is 
too  late  for  his  business,  or  he  must  hurry  away 
to  another  before  lie  can  finish  it.  It  was  a  wise 
maxim  of  the  Duke  of  Newcastle — "I  do  one  thing 
at  a  time."  Punctuality  gives  weight  to  character. 
Such  a  man  has  made  an  appointment:  then  I 
know  he  will  keep  it."  Anil  this  generates  punc- 
tuality in  you  :  for  like  other  vii  tues,  it  propagates 
itself:  servarts  and  children  must  be  punctual, 
where  their  leader  is  so.  Appointments,  indeed, 
become  debts:  I  owe  you  punctuality,  if  I  have 
made  an  appointment  with  you  ;  and  have  no  right 
to  throw  away  your  time  if  I  do  my  own. 

It  is  a  difficult  question  in  casuistry — How  rAR 

A  MAS  IS  BOUND  TO  BCTRAY  CONFIDENCE  FOR  GEN- 
ERAL good.  Let  it  be  considered  what  conse- 
quences would  follow  from  a  man's  disclosing  all 
the  evil  he  knows.  The  world  would  become  a 
nest  of  scorpions.  He  must  often  mistake,  and  of 
course  calumniate.  Such  is  his  incapacity  to  de- 
termine what  is  really  evil  in  his  neighbor,  and 
such  are  the  mischiefs  frequently  arising  from  the 
disclosure  of  even  what  should  he  in  truth  evii, 
that  he  seems  rather  called  on  to  be  silent,  till  cir- 
cumstances render  it  a  case  of  duty  to  remain  si- 
lent no  longer.  But  if  this  be  his  general  rule, 
it  will  be  his  duty  to  observe  silence  much  oftener 


226 


REMAINS    OK   MB.  CECIL. 


in  cases  of  confidence.  Professional  men — a 
minister — a  lawyer — a  medical  man  —  have  an  of- 
ficial secrecy  imposed  on  them.  If  this  were  not 
the  case — a  distrest  conscience  could  never  un- 
burthen  itself  to  its  confessor.  Incalculable  inju- 
ries to  health  and  properly  must  be  sustained,  for 
want  of  proper  advisers.  This  applies  in  a  very 
high  sense  to  a  minister,  considered  as  a  confessor 
— a  director  of  the  conscience.  An  alarmed  con- 
science will  unfold  its  most  interior  recesses  before 
him.  It  is  said  Dr.  Owen  advised  a  man,  who  un- 
der religious  convictions  confessed  to  him  a  mur- 
der which  he  had  perpetrated  some  years  before, 
to  surrender  himself  up  to  justice.  The  man  did  so, 
and  was  executed.  I  think  Dr.  Owen  erred  in  his 
advice.  I  thought  myself  right,  in  urging  on  per- 
sons, who  have  opened  their  hearts  to  rue,  deep 
humiliation  before  God  for  crimes  commuted  in 
an  (incontroverted  state:  but,  as  it  had  pleased 
Hjm  to  give  a  thorough  hatred  of  those  crimes  to 
the  mind,  and  a  consequent  self-loathing  and  hu- 
miliation, and  yet  to  allow  in  his  providence  that 
they  should  have  remained  undiscovered,  I  judged 
that  the  matter  might  be  safely  left  with  him.  Yet 
there  may  be  cases  in  which  general  consequences 
require  that  confidence  should  he  betrayed.  Such 
cases  usually  relate  to  evil  in  crooress.  To  pre- 
vent or  counteract  such  evil,  it  may  he  necessary 
to  disclose  what  lias  been  intrusted  in  confidence. 
Yet  the  party  should  be  honestly  warned,  if  its 
purposes  are  not  changed,  what  duty  your  con- 
science will  require, 

I  have  felt  twice  in  my  life  very  extraordinary 
impressions  after  sermons,  and  that  from  men 
least  calculated  to  affect  me.  A  man  of  great 
powers,  but  so  dissipated  on  every  thing  that  he 
knew  nothing — a  frivolous,  futile  babbler,  whom  1 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


227 


was  ready  almost  to  despise — surprised  and  chained 
me  so,  in  my  own  church  at  Lewes,  that  I  was  thun- 
derstruck :  I  think  it  was  concerning  tiie  dove  not 
finding  rest  for  the  sole  of  her  foot:  he  felt  the  snhject 
strongly  himself;  and  in  spite  of  all  my  prejudices 
against  him  and  my  real  knowledge  of  his  charac- 
ter, he  made  me  feel  it  as  I  have  scarcely  ever  done 
before  or  since.  In  the  other  instance,  I  had  to  do 
with  a  very  different  character  :  he  was  a  simple, 
hut  weak  man  :  it  pleased  God,  however,  to  shoot 
an  arrow  by  his  hand  into  my  heart:  I  had  been 
some  time  in  a  dry,  fruitless  frame,  and  was  per- 
suading myself  that  all  was  going  on  well  :  he  said 
one  day,  at  Lewes,  with  an  indescribable  simplici- 
ty, that  "  men  might  cheer  themselves  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  they  might  pass  on  tolerably  well  perhaps 
without  God  at  noon  ;  but  the  cool  of  the  day  was 
coming,"  when  God  would  come  down  to  talk 
with  them."  It  was  a  message  from  God  to  me  : 
I  felt  as  though  God  had  descended  into  the  church, 
and  was  about  to  call  me  to  my  account!  In  the 
former  instance,  I  was  more  surprised  and  aston- 
ished than  affected  religiously  ;  but,  in  this,  I  was 
unspeakably  moved. 

Constitutional  bias  is  a  suspicious  interpreter 
of  providential  leadinos.  A  man's  besetting  sin 
lies  in  that  to  which  his  nature  is  most  inclined  ; 
and,  therefore,  to  walk  wisely  and  holily,  he  should 
be  very  jealous  of  such  supposed  leadings  in  Prov- 
idence as  draw  with  his  constitutional  propensity. 
He  is  never  safe,  unless  he  is  in  the  act  of  collaring 
his  nature  as  a  rebel,  and  forcing  it  into  submission. 
A  sanguine  man  sees  a  sign  and  token  in  every 
thing:  in  every  ordinary  occurrence,  his.  imagina- 
tion hears  a  call :  his  pious  fancy  is  the  source  and 
food  of  an  eager,  disquieted,  and  restless  habit  of 
mind.    An  enterprising  man  has  great  facility  iu 


228 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


finding  God  in  whatever  seems  to  open  to  honor, 
or  influence,  or  power.  But  he  has  lost  the  right 
estimate  of  things  :  if  God  seem  to  draw  with  an 
enterprising  mind,  the  man  should  stand  and  trem- 
ble. Providence  may  really  lead  some  retired  and 
humble  men  into  situations  which  the  ambitious 
man  would  covet:  hut,  even  in  that  case,  it  is  not 
to  be  regarded  as  an  evidence  of  favor,  so  much  as 
an  increase  of  trial  and  responsibility  :  hut  he  can 
never  open  before  an  enterprising  and  ambitious 
character,  unless  in  judgment,  or  in  such  immi- 
nence of  trial  as  should  call  the  man  to  self-suspi- 
cion and  humility.  A  pleasurable  man  easily  dis- 
cerns God's  hand  in  every  thing,  which  seems  to 
put  his  favorite  indulgences  within  his  power: 
such  a  thing  was  a  great  providence  !  and  he  is 
vastly  grateful  !  while  he  sees  not  that  he  is  led 
away  to  broken  cisterns.  An  idle  man  has  a  con- 
stant tendency  to  torpidity,  lie  has  adopted  the 
Indian  maxim — that  it  is  better  to  walk  than  to 
run,  and  better  to  stand  than  to  walk,  and  better  to 
sit  than  to  stand,  and  better  to  lie  than  to  sit.  He 
hugs  himself  into  the  notion,  that  God  calls  him  to 
be  quiet: — that  he  is  not  made  fur  bustling  aud 
noise! — that  such  and  such  a  thing  plainly  show 
him  he  ought  to  retire  and  sit  sliM!  A  busy  man  is 
never  at  rest:  he  sees  himself  called  so  often  into 
action,  that  be  digs  too  much  10  suffer  any  thing 
to  grow,  and  waters  so  profusely  that  he  drowns. 
The  danger  in  all  these  cases  is,  lest  a  man  should 
bless  himself  in  his  snares! 

Adam  well  observes: — "  A  poor  country  parson, 
fighting  against  the  devil  in  his  parish,  has  nobler 
ideas  than  Alexander  had."  Men  of  the  world 
know  nothing  of  true  glory:  they  know  nothing  of 
the  grandeur  of  that  sentiment  —  Thou,  O  God,  art 
the  thing  that  I  long  for!  You  may,  perhaps,  find 


REMAINS   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


•229 


this  sentiment  in  the  corner  of  some  monastery, 
where  a  poor  ignorant  creature  is  mumbling  over 
his  prayers:  or,  it  may  even  be  found  to  exist  with 
the  nonsense  and  fanaticism  of  a  Swedenborgian  ; 
but,  wherever  it  is,  it  is  true  dignity. 

Look  at  the  bravery  of  the  world  !  Go  into  the 
Park.  Who  is  the  object  of  admiration  there  ? — 
The  captain  swelling  and  strutting  at  the  head  of 
his  corps!  And  what  is  there  at  the  court? — "Make 
way!  Make  way!"  And  who  is  this?  A  bit  ofclay, 
with  a  ribbon  tied  round  it !  Now  it  makes  noth- 
ing against  the  comparative  emptiness  and  little- 
ness of  these  things,  that  1  or  any  man  should  be 
ensnared  by  them,  and  play  the  fool  with  the  rest 
of  the  species.  Truth  is  truth,  and  dignity  is  dig- 
nity in  spite  of  the  errors  and  folly  of  any  man  liv- 
ing. 

But  this  is  the  outside.  What  are  the  greatest 
minds,  and  the  noblest  projects  of  the  world,  com- 
pared with  a  Christian  !  Take  Mr.  Pitt  for  an  in- 
stance: and  contrast  him  with  the  most  insignifi- 
cant old  woman  in  the  church  of  Christ !  If  the 
Bible  be  not  true,  you  have  no  standard  :  all  your 
reasonings,  and  science,  and  philosophy,  and  meta- 
physics, are  gross  absurdity  and  folly.  But  if  the  Bible 
be  true  ;  Mr.  Pitt,  great  and  noble  as  he  is,  yet,  con- 
sidered as  a  mere  politician,  even  Mr.  Pitt  has  a  lit- 
tle, contracted,  mean  mind  ! — a  driveller  ! — an  earth 
worm!  Compared  with  his  projects  and  schemes, 
the  old  woman,  who  rises  at  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  lights  her  farthing  candle,  stands  all  day 
over  her  wash-tub,  at  night  puts  on  her  red  cloak, 
steals  out  to  some  place  of  worship,  hears  the 
truths  of  the  gospel  mangled  perhaps  with  igno- 
rant yet  honest  zeal,  but  draws  in  good  into  an 
honest  and  prepared  heart — why,  this  woman  is  a 
heroine— a  noble  mind— compared  with  the  great- 


230 


REMAINS  OF   MR.  CECIl- 


est  of  men,  considered  as  a  mere  man  of  this 
world  ! 

Bishop  Wilkins  has  said  admirably,  That  noth- 
ing in  man  is  great,  but,  so  far  as  it  is  connected 
with  God.  The  only  wise  thing  recorded  of 
Xerxes,  is  his  reflection  on  the  sight  of  his  army — 
That  not  one  of  that  immense  multitude  would 
survive  a  hundred  years:  it  seems  to  have  been 
a  momentary  gleam  of  true  light  aud  feeling. 


APPENDIX. 


REMARKS  BY  MR.  CECIL,  COMMUNICATED 
TO  THE  EDITOR  BY  SOME  FRIENDS. 


A  hiding-place  implies  secrecy.  He  who  can 
say  unto  God,  Thou  art  my  kiding  place,  may  go 
abroad  about  his  affairs,  and  may  pass  through  a 
thousand  dangers,  and  yet  at  the  same  time,  have 
such  a  hiding  place,  in  the  lavor  and  protection  of 
God,  that,  when  he  seems  to  he  exposed  on  every 
side,  still  he  is  secured  and  hidden  from  every 
evil. 

A  cheat  man,  however  high  his  office  and  tal- 
ents, is  dependent  on  little  things.  Jonah  ivas  ex- 
ceeding glad  of  his  gourd.  However  splendid  and 
toweling,  man  is  crushed  beneath  the  moth,  if  God 
does  Dot  uphold  him  :  so  that  while  we  are  admiring 
the  great  man  as  he  is  called,  and  however  he  may 
be  disposed  to  admire  himself  and  to  speak  great 
swelling  words  of  vanity,  facts  will  show  that  lie  is 
a  poor,  dependent  creature,  who  cannot  live  a  mo- 
ment without  God.  IF  the  Holy  Spirit  opens  his 
eyes,  he  will  perceive  that  he  cannot  stand  alone; 
but  can  only  support  himself  and  climb,  like  the 
ivy,  by  clasping  one  stronger  than  himself. 

Dreams  nre  common  to  sleeping.  No  man  be- 
gins to  slumber  in  religion,  hut  he  falls  into  some 
golden  dream.  It  is  a  device  of  Satan  to  seduce 
men  into  a  drowsy  state,  and  then  to  beguile  them 


232 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


with  some  dream.  When  the  duties  of  religion  he- 
come  irksome,  then  he  presents  some  novelty 
which  allures  and  deceives  us:  whereas,  had  we 
been  in  life  and  vigor,  we  should  have  detected  the 
deceit. 

There  are  no  greater  objects  of  pity  in  the 
world,  than  men  who  are  admired  by  all  around 
for  their  nice  discernment  and  fine  taste  in  every 
thing  of  a  worldly  nature,  but  have  no  taste  for  the 
riches  that  endure  forever — no  love  for  God  or  his 
word — no  love  for  Christ  or  their  souls.  In  such  a 
state,  however  admired  or  respected,  they  cannot 
see  the  kingdom  of  God. 

A  Spiritual  man  is  a  character  that  rises  far 
above  all  Worldly  wisdom  and  science.  He  is  de- 
scribed by  our  Lord  as  born  of  the  Spirit.  Spiritual 
senses  are  given  to  him.  He  has  a  spiritual  taste 
that  rejects  whatever  is  injurious,  and  gladly  re- 
ceives whatever  is  salutary  to  the  spiritual  life  :  he 
desires  the  sincere  milk  of  the  word,  that  he  7nay  grow 
thereby.  He  has  a  spiritual  sight  :  he  looks  not  at 
the  things  ivhich  are  seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are 
not  seen.  He  smells  a  sweet  savor  in  the  things 
of  God.  His  name  is  as  ointment  poured  forth.  He 
has  a  quick  feeling.  And  he  has  a  spiritual  BAH': 
My  sheep  hear  my  voice.  He  lives  in  a  world  of  his 
own  :  he  is  tried  by  spiritual  conflicts,  and  supported 
by  spiritual  comforts.  If  the  things  of  God  do  not 
afford  him  consolation,  he  droops,  and  nothing  in 
this  world  can  lift  up  his  head  :  he  will  say  to  eve- 
ry other  object,  Miserable  comforters  are  ye  all ! 
He  is  pursuing  a  spiritual  end,  and  while  others 
boast  and  are  puffed  up  with  their  great  attain- 
ments, he  is  humbled  in  the  dust,  and  gives  all 
glory  to  God. 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


233 


There  nre  critical  circumstances,  under  which 
a  man  who  is  in  general  on  his  guard,  is  called  to 
redouble  his  Christian  vigilance.  If  he  is  ahout  to 
encounter  imminent  danger,  for  instance,  he  will 
take  care  to  secure  himself  by  every  possible 
means.  A  house  may  be  well  guarded  and  se- 
cured, but,  if  there  is  any  fear  and  expectation  of 
thieves,  every  place  will  be  doubly  barred  and 
watched.  Good  care  may  be  taken,  in  the  gen- 
eral habits  of  a  family,  to  guard  against  fire  ;  but 
if  it  be  known  that  a  spark  has  fallen  among  any 
combustibles,  every  possible  search  is  made  to 
discover  it  and  to  prevent  its  ravages.  Thus 
should  every  servant  of  Christ  redouble  his  guard 
in  critical  circumstances.  He  should  remember, 
that,  while  awful  providences  seem  to  be  threaten- 
ing us,  and  while  we  are  surrounded  with  dangers 
on  every  side,  and  while  the  enemy  of  our  souls  is 
going  about  as  a  roaring  lion  seeking  whom  he  may 
devour,  it  ill  becomes  us  to  trifle.  Let  us  stir  up 
ourselves,  and  attend  to  our  Master's  admonition, 
Let  your  loins  be  girded  about,  and  your  lights  burn- 
ing, and  ye  yourselves  like  unto  men  that  wait  for 
their  Lord. 

If  St.  Paul  had  not  been  on  entire  character,  he 
would  not  have  spoken  so  ingenuously  of  himself 
as  he  does  in  the  7th  to  the  Romans.  He  would 
have  acted  as  many  others  have  done  :  he  would 
have  put  the  best  aspect  on  things.  He  would  not 
have  opened  the  chambers  of  imagery;  and  have 
shewed,  while  all  the  church  was  admiring  him, 
what  was  passing  within.  Here  were  real  sim- 
plicity and  humility — nothing  of  that  Pharisee 
which  he  once  was.  The  Pharisee  is  become  a 
Publican  :  the  reality  is  coming  forward  ;  and  he 
seems  to  say,  "  Is  any  man  groaning  under  a  body 
of  sin  and  death  ?— on  searching  his  heart,  does  he 


234 


REMAINS  OF   MR.  CECIL* 


find  that  therein  dwelleth  no  good  thing?— This  is 
my  case  also  ;  anil  if  I  have  any  thin;;  wherein  to 
glory,  it  is  in  Christ  and  not  in  myself." 

Charitt  should  teach  us  to  exercise  hope  and 
love  toward  all  men — hope  toward  those  who  are 
without,  and  love  toward  those  who  are  within, 
the  walls  of  the  city  of  God.  Of  those  without, 
we  are  apt  to  despair  too  soon,  and  to  say,  There 
is  no  hope;  when  we  should  lahor  to  allure  (hem 
into  the  church  of  God,  and  to  impress  thern  with  a 
sense  of  its  glory  and  its  privileges.  Toward 
those  within  the  walls,  we  sometimes  fail  in  the 
exercise  of  love:  we  are  too  much  influenced  in 
our  feelings  toward  them  by  a  difference  of  edu- 
cation, taste,  or  disposition  ;  while  the  great  ques- 
tion ought  to  he,  "Are  they  really  fellow-citizens 
with  the  saints  and  of  the  household  of  God  ?" — and  if 
so,  whatever  their  defects  may  he,  we  ought  to 
honor  and  love  tliein  as  the  temples  of  the  Hohi 
Ghost.  J  J 

When  Christians  are  delivered  from  trouble, 
they  are  apt  soon  to  forget  it ;  and  to  lose  sight  of 
the  holy  resolutions  formed  while  under  affliction: 
the  strong  impressions  soon  decay.  Whereas  if 
we  were  enabled  to  glory  in  tribulation— -if  our  con- 
science were  made  tender — if  more  reality  were 
put  into  our  prayers — we  should  take  heed  how 
We  give  way  to  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief:  we 
should  remember,  too,  how  our  troubles  were 
brought  on  us,  and  the  benefits  which  we  received 
while  they  continued:  we  should  watch  that  we 
might  not  estimate  them  falsely:  and  at  all  times, 
we  should  bear  it  in  our  mind,  v'jtJt  it 's  not  suffer- 
ing which  hurts  us,  but  sin, 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


233 


Some  men  will  follow  Christ  on  certain  conditions 
— if  lie  will  not  lead  them  through  rough  roads— if 
he  will  not  enjoin  tliein  any  painful  tasks — if  the 
sun  and  wind  do  not  annoy  them— if  he  will  remit 
a  part  of  his  plan  and  order.  But  the  true  Chris- 
tian, who  has  the  spirit  of  Jesus,  will  say,  as  Ruth 
said  to  Naomi,  "  Whither  thou  goest,  1  ivill  go  ."' 
whatever  difficulties  and  dangers  may  be  in  the 
way. 

It  is  our  happiness,  as  Christians,  that,  however 
we  may  chana*  our  place,  we  shall  never  change 
our  object.  Whatever  we  lose,  we  shall  not  lose 
that  which  we  esteem  better  than  life.  God  has 
made  to  us  this  gracious  promise— 1'tnB  dwell  in 
them,  and  walk  in  them.  And  though  we  may 
endure  much  affliction,  and  pass  through  many 
deep  waters,  yet  this  is  our  honour  and  comfort, 
the  Lord  is  with  us  !  and  then— what  is  difficul- 
ty ? — what  is  tribulation  ?— what  is  death  ?— Death 
to  a  Christian  is  hut  an  entrance  into  the  city  of 
God!  it  is  hut  joining  a  more  blessed  company, 
and  singing  in  a  more  exalted  strain,  than  he  can 
do  in  this  world. 

The  way  of  every  man  is  declarative  of  the 
end  of  that  man. 

How  difficult  is  it  to  show  those  who  afe  in  the 
house  of  mourning,  that  God  is  teaching  then)) 
that,  if  they  had  not  leaned  so  much  on  their 
creature-supports,  they  had  not  been  so  broken  ! 
Still  they  are  crying,  O  Absalom,  my  son,  my  son  ! 
Why  is  it  that  we  are  shocked  to  see  the  world 
falling  to  pieces  around  us,  when  we  shall  leave 
it  ourselves  to-morrow — perhaps  to-day?  We  for- 
get l  hat  it  is  the  design  of  God  to  dash  every  thing 
to  pieces.     It  is  by  these  trials  that  we  begin  to 


236 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


learn  we  have  been  walking  by  sense  rather  than 
by  faith — and  looking  at  our  children  and  our 
possessions  as  though  we  were  never  to  lose  them. 

It  is  by  faith  that  we  are  relieved  under  the 
difficulties  of  sense.  Sense  revolts,  when  it  views 
our  great  high  Priest  on  the  cross — Faith  glories 
in  this  object!  Sense  talks  like  the  Jews:  He 
saved  others  :  himself  he  cannot  save  :  if  he  be  now 
the  King  of  Israel,  lit  him  come  down  from  the  cross, 
and  we  will  believe  him. — Faith  lays  hold  on  him  as 
the  Saviour  of  the  world,  and  cries,  Lord!  remem- 
ber me  when  thou  comest  into  thy  kingdom!  Sense 
envies  the  prosperous  worldling,  and  calls  him 
happy — Faith  goes  into  the  sanctuary,  to  see  what 
his  end  will  be.  When  the  waves  run  high, 
Sense  clamors— Faith  says,  "  Speak  hut  the  word, 
and  the  winds  and  waves  shall  obey  thee."  When 
we  feel  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  taking 
down,  Sense  Sinks — but  Faith  says,  We  know,  that, 
if  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  be  dissolved, 
ice  have  a  building  of  God,  a  hcuse  not  made  with 
hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 

Wisdom  prepares  for  the  worst  :  but  folly  leaves 
the  worst  lor  that  day  when  it  comes. 

Abraham  teaches  us  the  right  way  of  convers- 
ing with  Goil  :—And  Abraham  fell  on  his  face,  and 
God  talked  with  him  !  When  we  plead  with  him 
our  faces  should  be  in  the  dust  :  we  shall  not  then 
speak  lightly  of  him,  nor  complain  ;  nor  will  there 
be  any  more  boasting.  We  shall  abase  ourselves 
and  exalt  God  ! 

The  Christian's  secret  intercourse  with  God 
will  make  itself  manifest  to  the  world.  We  may 
not  see  the  husbandman  cast  the  seed  into  the 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


•23? 


ground,  yet  when  the  corn  grows  and  ripens  we 
know  that  it  was  sown.  The  mere  professor,  who 
may  be  found  every  where  but  in  his  secret  cham- 
ber, may  think  that  with  care  he  shall  pass  for  a 
good  Christian:  but  he  mistakes,  for  the  spirit 
will  discover  itself,  of  what  sort  it  is.  He,  who 
would  walk  safely  and  honorably,  must  walk 
closely  with  God  in  secret. 

A  variety  of  circumstances  render  the  sinner's 
firsf  approaches  to  Christ  difficult.  They,  who 
find  an  easy  access,  will  find  an  easy  departure 
when  troubles  arise. 

The  most  likely  method  we  can  take  to  hasten 
the  removal  of  what  we  love,  is,  to  value  it  too 
much — to  think  on  it  with  endle.-s  anxiety — to 
live  on  its  favor  with  solicitude.  It  shall  soon 
cither  become  a  thorn  in  our  side,  or  be  taken 
away. 

Be  ye  not  unequally  yoked.  If  a  believer  marries 
an  unbeliever,  the  miseries  which  ensue  are  end- 
less. Were  they  determined,  in  kindness,  to  grant 
all  they  could  to  each  other;  yet  they  live  as  in 
two  separate  worlds.  There  is  a  great  gulf  be- 
tween them,  which  cannot  be  passed  without  the 
grace  of  God  ;  on  which,  while  all  should  hope 
and  pray  for  it,  none  should  presume.  They  can- 
not taste  the  same  pleasures,  nor  share  the  same 
sorrows,  nor  pursue  the  same  objects,  nor  walk  in 
the  same  path.  What  hope,  then,  can  there  be  of 
comfort?  livery  Christian  rinds  the  corruptions  of 
his  own  heart,  the  snares  of  the  world,  and  the 
devices  of  Satan,  together  with  innumerable  se- 
cret anxieties,  quite  enough  to  struggle  with  in  his 
journey  to  heaven,  without  adding  another  to  his 
difficulties. 


23  8 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


In  studying  the  word  of  God,  digest  it  under 
these  two  heads:  either  as  removing  obstructions, 
which  keep  God  anil  thee  asunder  ;  nr  as  supply- 
ing some  uniting  power  to  bring  God  and  thee 
together. 

Perhaps  it  is  a  greater  energy  of  Divine  Power, 
which  keeps  the  Christian  from  day  to  day,  from 
year  to  year — praying,  hoping,  running,  believing 
— against  all  hinderances — which  maintains  turn  as 
a  living  martyr — than  that  which  bears  him  up 
for  an  hour  in  sacrificing  himself  at  the  stake. 

By  the  course  of  his  providence  God  will  assert 
the  liberty  of  his  council. 

Let  me  ask,  every  day,  what  reference  it  has  to 
the  day  of  judgment  ;  and  cultivate  a  disposition 
to  be  reminded  of  that  day. 

Indulge  not  a  gloomy  contempt  of  any  thing 
which  is  in  itself  good:  only  let  it  keep  its  place. 

God  has  called  us  to  meet  his  best  uift  to  man 
— his  only-begotten  Son — not  in  a  splendid  court, 
but  in  a  manger! — in  the  wilderness! — in  Geth- 
seinane! — before  the  high  priest,  when  they  spat 
in  his  face  and  buffeted  him,  and  smote  him! — at 
the  cross  ! —  and  at  the  sepulchre  !  Thus  it  is  that 
lie  corrects  the  pride  and  ambition  of  the  human 
heart ! 

There  is  in  sin,  not  only  an  infinite  mischief 
done  to  the  man,  but  it  is  accompanied  by  an  in- 
fatuation that  surpasses  all  description.  '  When 
the  heart  declines  from  God,  and  loses  commun- 
ion with  Christ,  the  man  resembles  one  in  a  con- 
sumption, who  is  on  the  brink  of  the  grave  and 


REMAINS   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


230 


yet  talks  of  a  speedy  recovery  !  A  death  will  come 
on  the  spirit,  which  will  be  perceived  and  felt  by 
all  around  :  yet,  when  the  most  affectionate  friends 
of  such  a  man  attempt  to  expostulate,  they  often 
find  him  not  only  insensible,  but  obstinate  and 
stout-hearted.  He  who,  like  Samson,  the  cham- 
pion of  Israel,  lays  his  head  in  the  lap  of  tempta- 
tion, will  rarely  rise  again  as  he  lay  '  own  :  he 
may  say,  /  will  go  out,  us  at  other  times  before,  and 
shake  myself:  but  he  icists  not  that  the  Lord  is  de- 
purled  from  him! — Strangers  have  devoured  his 
strength,  and  he  knoweth  it  not ! 

The  whole  life  of  Christ  was  one  continued  ex- 
pression of  the  same  desire. — "  Let  me  lay  aside 
my  glory — let  me  expire  on  the  cross— so  that  thy 
kingdom  may  come!"  And  the  blood  of  every 
martyr,  who  ever  suffered  in  the  cause  of  God, 
cried,  "  Let  thy  kingdom  come  !" 

Growth  in  grace  manifests  itself  by  a  simplicity 
— that  is,  a  greater  naturalness  of  character. 
There  w  ill  I  e  more  usefulness,  and  less  noise  ; 
more  tenderness  of  conscience,  and  less  scrupu- 
losity) therw  will  be  more  peace,  more  humility  : 
when  the  full  corn  is  in  the  ear,  it  bends  down 
because  it  is  full. 

The  history  of  all  the  great  characters  of  the 
Bible  is  summed  up  in  this  one  sentence: — they 
acquainted  themselves  with  God,  and  acquiesced 
in  lus  will  in  all  things. 

God's  way  of  answering  the  Christian's  prayer 
for  an  increase  of  patience,  experience,  hope,  and 
love — usually  is  to  put  him  into  the  furnace  of 
tribulation.  St.  James  therefore  says,  Count  it  all 
joy  when  ye  fall  into  divers  temptations.    People  of 


•2-10 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


the  world  count  it  all  joy  when  they  are  in  ease 
and  uffluence;  but  a  Christian  its  taught  to.  count 
it  alljoy  when  he  is  tried  as  gold  in  ihe  fire. 

In  Christ  we  see  the  most  perfect  exhibition 
of  every  grace,  to  which  we,  as  his  followers,  are 
called.  Let  there  be  but  in  us  that  poverty  of  spir- 
it— that  disposition  to  bear  with  provocations,  and 
to  forgive  injuries — that  obedience  to  God  and  ac- 
quiescence in  his  will — that  perseverance  in  doing 
good — that  love  which  overcomcth  all  difficulties — 
that  meekness,  humility,  patience,  compassion, and 
gentleness  which  were  found  in  Christ  ;  and  if  any 
man  should  be  so  ignorant  and  debased  as  to  im- 
agine that  this  is  not  true  dignity  of  character, 
]et  it  be  remembered  that  this  was  the  mind  xchich 
was  also  in  Christ  Jesus. 

Looking  back  is  more  than  we  can  sustain  with- 
out going  back ! 

When  the  multitudes  followed  our  Lord  on  a 
particular  occasion,  although  he  wished  for  retire- 
ment, and  had  gone  purposely  to  seek  it,  yet  he 
gave  up  his  design  and  attended  to  them.  Mark 
the  condescension  and  tenderness  of  suc  h  conduct, 
in  opposition  to  a  sour,  monastic,  morose  temper. 
We  are  too  fond  of  our  own  will.  We  want  to  be 
doing  what  we  fancy  mighty  things  ;  but  the  great 
point  is,  to  do  small  things,  when  called  to  them, 
in  a  right  spirit. 

The  world  will  allow  of  a  vehemence  approach- 
ing to  ecstasy,  on  almost  any  occasion  but  that, 
which,  above  all  others,  will  justify  it. 

A  christian  will  find  his  parenthesis  for  prayer, 
even  through  his  busiest  hours. 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


241 


We  treat  sensible  and  present  things  as  realities, 
and  future  and  eternal  things  as  fables:  whereas 
the  reverse  should  be  our  habit. 

An  Enthusiast  will  court  trouble,  and  that  for 
itself  :  but  a  Christian,  while  he  does  not  court 
it,  yet  rejoices  in  it :  not  for  its  own  sake,  but  be- 
cause he  knows  that  tribulation  workelh  patience, 
and  patience  experience,  and  experience  hope — a  hope 
that  maketh  not  ashamed.  While  patience  is  tbe 
fruit  of  his  conflicts  and  trials,  he  gains  experience 
by  them  :  he  acquires  the  knowledge  which  a  trav- 
eller obtains  in  performing  along  journey:  he  is 
in  possession  of  a  bundle  of  choice  maxims'and  ob- 
servations, gathered  with  much  pains:  he  is  taught 
by  them  to  know  his  own  heart :  he  is  brought  ac- 
quainted witli  the  faithfulness  and  mercy  of  God, 
in  holding  him  up  in  the  deep  waters,  and  accompa- 
ning  him  through  the  fire  of  affliction.  And  this  ex- 
perience produces  hope — a  hope  that  he  is  savingly 
united  to  Christ — ii  hope  that  he  is  in  the  church  of 
God— a  hope  of  the  glory  of  God— a.  hope  that 
maketh  not  ashamed,  keeping  us  steady  at  anchor 
through  every  storm,  and  when  every  other  sup- 
port fails. 

There  are  but  two  states  in  the  world  which 
may  be  pronounced  happy— either  that  of  the  man 
who  rejoices  in  the  light  of  God's  countenance,  or 
that  of  him  who  mourns  after  it. 

Let  the  warm-hearted  Christian  be  careful  of 
receiving  a  wrong  bias  in  religion.  When  a  ball 
is  in  motion,  almost  any  thing  presented  to  it  ob- 
liquely will  turn  it  wholly  out  of  its  course.  Be- 
ware, therefore,  of  a  wrong  direction  in  Christian- 
ity. Fix  your  attention  ever  on  such  examples  as 
St.  John  and  St.  Paul,  and  hear  how  they  speak  : 


242 


&EMAINS   OF  SIR.  CECli.. 


If  any  man  love  not  the  Lord  Jestts  Christ,  let  him  be 
.inathema,  Maranalha .' 

God  denies  a  Christian  nothing,  but  with  a  de- 
sign to  give  him  something  better. 

God  teaches  some  of  his  best  lessons  in  the 
school  of  affliction.  It  is  said  that  St.  Paul's  Epistle 
to  the  Ephesians  has  quite  the  spirit  and  air  of  a 
prison.  That  school  must  be  truly  excellent,  which 
produces  such  experience  and  wisdom. 

We  cannot  build  too  confidently  on  the  merits  of 
Christ,  as  our  only  hope  ;  nor  can  we  think  too 
much  of  the  wind  that  wus  in  Christ,  as  our  great 
example. 

A  christian  does  not  glory  in  tribulation,  as  he 
does  in  the  cross  of  Christ.  The  Cross  of  Christ 
is  the  object  in  which  he  glories:  but  he  glories 
in  tribulation  as  an  appointed  means  and  instru- 
ment in  the  band  of  God,  of  accomplishing  his 
own  pleasure  and  promoting  our  real  good. 

Never  was  there  a  man  of  deep  piety,  who  has 
not  been  brought  into  extremities — who  has  not 
been  put  into  thefiie— who  has  not  been  taught  to 
say,  Though  he  slay  me,  yd  will  I  trust  in  him  ! 

A  christian's  steps  are  not  only 'safe,  but  steady  : 
— He  that  bclitvcth,  shall  not  make  haste.  When 
danger  approaches,  be  shall  not  be  thrown  into 
confusion  from  his  alarm,  so  as  to  be  ready  to  sav, 
"Whither  shall  I  run?"  but,  finding  himself  on 
safe  ground,  be  shall  be  quiet.  Btinc  built  on  the 
sure  foundation  and  established  in  Christ,  he  shall 
not  make  baste  in  bis  fxpectations :  he  shall 
not  make  haste  with    respect  to  the  promises. 


REMAINS   OF   MR.   CECIL.  243 

as  though  they  were  long  in  their  accomplishment, 
knowing  that  all  the  promises  of  God  are  Yea,  and, 
in  Christ,  Amen  !  In  affliction,  he  shall  not  make 
haste  in  running  to  broken  cisterns;  as  Asadid,  when 
in  his  disease,  he  sought  not  to  the  Lord,  but  to  the 
physicians :  lie  shall  not  be  alarmed,  or  driven 
about,  as  one  who  has  not  a  strong  hold  to  enter; 
but  shall  say,  None  of  these  things  move  me  !  7ieither 
count  I  my  life  dear  unto  myself,  so  that  I  might  fin- 
ish my  course  with  joy !  With  respect  to  his  char- 
acter, the  Christian  shall  not  make  haste:  if  a  cloud 
come  over  his  reputation,  and  men  will  suspect  his 
integrity  without  grounds,  he  will  commit  himself 
to  God,  and  wait  his  opportunity,  and  not  make 
rash  haste  to  justify  and  clear  his  character. 

When  a  man  can  say,  "  My  God !"  if  he  can 
add  no  more,  that  is  sufficient :  for  my  God  is  all- 
wise  in  appointing,  and  almighty  to  uphold  and  to 
deliver.  My  God  is  a  Father  to  me  in  Christ:  yea, 
he  is  a  Father  who  hid  his  face  from  Christ  for  my 
good.  If,  then,  I  am  in  darkness,  let  me  remember 
that  God  never  had  a  Son  that  was  not  sometimes 
inthedaik;  for  even  Christ,  his  only  begotten 
Son,  cried  out,  My  God !  My  God  !  why  hast  thou 
forsaken  me  t 

Few  Christians,  if  any,  sufficiently  honor  Christ, 
as  governing  their  concerns.  They  do  not  say, 
"Now,  while  1  am  praying  on  earth,  my  Saviour 
is  working  for  mc  in  heaven.  He  is  saying  to  one, 
'  Do  this !' — and  to  another,  '  Do  that !  —  and  all  for 
my  good!"  While  Jeremiah  was,  doubtless,  crying 
to  God  out  of  the  dungeon,  Ebed-melech  was  in- 
terceding lor  him  with  the  king,  and  they  were 
preparing  the  means  of  his  deliverance.  See  Jer. 
xxxviii. 


244 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


Let  the  restless,  comfortless  state  of  a  backslider, 
distinguish  him  from  an  apostate. 

If  you  have  set  out  in  the  ways  of  God,  do  not 
stumble  at  present  difficulties.  Go  forward.  Look 
not  behind. 

Something  must  be  left  as  a  test  of  the  loyalty 
of  the  heart — in  Paradise,  the  Tree  :  in  Israel,  a 
Canaanite  :  in  us,  Temptation. 

Religious  joy,  is  a  holy,  a  delicate  deposit.  It 
is  a  pledge  of  something  greater,  and  must  not  be 
thought  lightly  of:  for  let  it  be  withdrawn  only  for 
a  little,  and,  notwithstanding  the  experience  we 
may  have  had  of  it,  we  shall  find  no  living  crea- 
ture can  restore  it  to  us,  and  we  can  only,  with 
David,  cry,  Restore  unto  me,  O  Lord,  the  joy  of  thy 
salvation. 

A  christian  should  beware  of  that  temptation, 
Why  should  I  wait  for  the  Lord  any  longer?  He 
should  remember,  if  it  is  a  time  of  extremity,  that 
is  the  very  reason  w  hy  he  should  wait.  If  his  way 
is  so  hedged  up  that  he  cannot  go  forward,  he  should 
say,  "Now  is  the  time  for  me  to  stand  still,  and 
wait  till  God  opens  my  way."  Jf'henmy  spirit  teas 
overwhelmed  within  me,  then  thou  kneuest  my  path. 

Human  nature  is  always  putting  forth  its  fears 
and  unbelief,  in  anxious  questions  concerning  to- 
morrow', or  some  threatening  calamity  :  but  Christ 
says  to  every  Christian,  "  Let  not  your  heart  be 
troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid  :  I  go  to  prepare  a 
place  for  you ;  and  I  w  ill  protect  and  guide  you 
throughout  the  journey  thither." 

God  with  us  is  the  traveller's  security.  Jacob 
was  destitute  :  he  had  a  long  and  dreary  journey  : 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


24o 


but  God  said,  Behold  1  am  toith  thee,  and  will  keep  Ihee 
in  all  places  whither  thougoest. 

God  calls  not  for  thousands  of  rams  nor  ten  thou- 
sands of  rivers  of  oil:  he  calls  not  li is  creatures  to 
live  in  sackcloth  and  ashes,  nor  set?  them  to  per- 
form long  pilgrimages,  nor  to  inflict  pains  on 
their  bodies.  No!  the  rigors  of  superstition  are 
from  man.  The  voice  of  God  is,  "  Be  happy,  here 
and  forever!  Fly  that  which  will  make  you  miser- 
able every  where  !  Come  unto  me,  all  that  labor  and 
are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest. 

The  voice  of  Christ  is,  My  Son,  give  me  thy 
heart!  and  to  him,  who  obeys,  he  will  say,  "Go  in 
peace!  go  into  the  grave!  go  to  judgment!  go  in- 
to eternity  !  go  in  peace  !" 

A  christian  must  stand  in  a  posture  to  receive 
every  message  which  God  shall  send.  He  must  be 
so  prepared,  aa  to  he  like  one  who  is  called  to  set 
off  on  a  sudden  journey,  and  has  nothing  to  do  hut 
to  set  out  at  a  moment's  notice  :  or  like  a  merchant 
who  has  goods  to  send  abroad,  and  has  them  all 
[tacked  up  and  in  readiness  for  the  first  sail. 

How  many  people  go  out  of  their  sphere  under 
good  pretences ! 

A  person  who  objects  to  tell  a  friend  of  his 
faults,  because  he  has  faults  of  his  own,  acts  as  a 
surgeon  would  who  should  refuse  to  dress  another 
person's  wound  because  he  had  a  dangerous  one 
himself. 

When  the  most  insignificant  person  tells  us  we 
are  wrong,  we  ought  to  listen.  Let  us  believe  it 
possible  we  may  be  wrong,  when  any  one  sup- 


240 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


poses  we  are  ;  and  enter  into  the  true  littleness 
which  consists  in  receiving  correction  like  a  child. 

No  man  rejects  a  minister  of  God  who  faithfully 
performs  his  office,  till  he  has  rejected  God. 

The  plainest  declarations  of  God's  favor  and  the 
strongest  encouragements,  are  generally  manifest- 
ed in  the  darkest  night  of  trial.  Who  could  be  more 
destitute  than  Jacob,  when  he  lay  down  in  the 
desert  with  a  stone  for  his  pillow?  See  also  Acts 
xxvii.  20—24.    2  Cor.  i.  3,  4,  5. 

The  pride  of  Israel  testificth  to  his  face  ;  and  they 
do  not  return  to  the  Lord  their  God.  This  is  the 
worst  symptom  in  a  sinner — when  he  is  too  proud 
to  go  to  God.  Whatever  be  our  condition,  if 
there  is  contrition  of  spirit  under  it,  there  is  hope 
of  that  man.  There  is  no  room  for  despair,  to 
whatever  lengths  a  man  may  have  gone  in 
sin,  if  he  can  smite  on  his  breast,  and  say,  "O 
Lord !  though  my  sins  testify  against  me,  yet 
thou  art  a  God  of  compassion.  Do  thou  it,  for  thy 
name's  sake." 

A  christian  should  never  attempt  to  try  his 
state  while  under  a  temptation  :  he  might  as  well 
attempt  to  examine  the  face  of  the  moon  while 
she  is  under  an  eclipse.  But,  when  he  finds  cor- 
rupt nature  setting  in  with  a  temptation — and  who 
has  not  felt  this  r — let  him  remember  his  Great 
Physician.  This  is  the  glory  of  the  Son  of  God, 
that  no  case,  either  of  the  body  or  of  the  soul,  was 
ever  found  too  hard  for  him !  Blessed  be  God, 
that  we  have  in  him  a  hiding-place — a  covert 
from  the  storm — a  refuge  from  all  our  enemies  ! 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


217 


The  great  care  of  the  man  who  is  content  with 
the  form  of  godliness  without  the  power,  is,  that 
every  tiling  should  he  right  without;  while  the 
true  Christian  is  most  careful  that  every  thing 
should  he  right  within.  It  would  be  nothing  to 
him  to  he  applauded  by  the  whole  world,  if  he 
had  not  the  approbation  of  God  and  his  own  con- 
science. Real  religion  is,  therefore,  a  living  prin- 
ciple. Any  one  may  make  a  show,  anil  be  called 
a  Christian,  and  unite  himself  to  a  sect,  and  be  ad- 
mired,— but,  for  a  man  to  enter  into  the  sanctu- 
ary ;  to  hold  secret  communion  with  God;  to  re- 
tire into  his  closet,  and  transact  all  his  affairs  with 
an  unseen  Saviour  ;  to  walk  with  God  like  Enoch, 
and  yet  to  smite  on  his  breast  with  the  Publican, 
having  no  confidence  in  the  flesh,  and  triumphing 
only  in  Christ  Jesus — these  are  the  life  and  acts  of 
a  new  creature ? 

O  Lord  !  let  me  have  any  thing  but  they  frown  : 
and  aki  thing,  with  thy  smile  !* 

Whatever,  below  God,  is  the  object  of  ourlove, 
will  at  some  time  or  other,  be  the  matter  of  our 
sorrow. 

Take  care,  Christian!  whatever  you  meet  with 
in  your  way,  that  you  forget  not  your  father  ! 
When  the  proud  and  wealthy  rush  by  in  triumph, 
while  you  are  poor  and  in  sorrow,  hear  the  voice 
of  your  Father  saying,"  My  Bon  !  had  I  loved  them, 
I  should  have  corrected  them  too.  1  give  them 
up  to  the  ways  of  their  own  hearts:  but  to  my 

*  "  Give  what  thou  canst,  without  Thee  we  are  poor  ! 
And  with  Thee  rich,  take  what  thou  wilt  away." 

Cowper,  Task.  V.    J.  P. 


248 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


children,  if  I  give  sorrow,  it  is  tlmt  I  may  lead  tliem 
to  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away  ! 

It  is  by  faith  that  we  contemplate  unseen  things. 
To  the  eye  of  a  clown,  a  planet  appears  but  a 
twinkling  star :  but  if  he  looked  through  a  teles- 
cope, and  were  able  to  calculate,  he  would  perceive 
that  it  was  a  great  world,  and  would  be  astonish- 
ed at  its  distance  and  magnitude.  While  the  gay 
and  the  busy  are  moving  on  their  little  mole-hills 
full  of  anxiety,  faith  thus  reaches  beyond  the  world  : 
it  views  death  as  at  hand  :  it  looks  at  heaven,  and 
catches  a  glimpse  of  its  glory  :  it  looks  at  hell  and 
sees  the  torments  of  the  condemned  :  it  looks  at 
judgment  and  realizes  that  awful  day:  it  looks  at 
eternity,  and  says,  Our  light  affliction,  ichich  is  hut 
for  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding 
and  eternal  weight  of  glory  :  while  we  look  not  at  the 
things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are 
not  seen  ;  for  the  things  irhich  are  seen  are  temporal, 
but  the  things  which  are  not  seen  are  eternal. 

Where  there  is  a  real  character,  a  man  will  not 
sit  down  in  the  Christian  conflict,  and  say,  "If  I 
must  carry  about  will)  me  this  body  of  death,  I 
must  submit.  I  must  bear  these  enemies  as  quiet- 
ly as  I  can."  No!  he  will  say,  as  St.  Paul  seems 
to  say,  "  I  will  be  on  no  terms  with  sin!  I  will 
raise  an  outcry  against  the  corrupt  nature  !  I  will 
triumph  in  my  Physician!  His  grace  is  sufficient 
for  ine  :  I  will  wait  for  a  cure,  and  wait  for  it  in 
the  appointed  way.  I  see  light  and  hope,  and 
liberty ;  and  I  thank  God,  that,  if  1  am  a  sinner, 
yet  I  am  a  saved  sinner  !" 

God  hath  set  the  day  of  prosperity  and  the  day  of 
adversity,  the  one  over  against  the  other — as  the 
clouds  are  gathered,  for  ruin,  by  the  shining  of  the 


REMAINS   OP  MR.  CECIL. 


•249 


sun  :  and,  if  for  a  moment  they  are  blown  aside, 
we  must  expect  their  return. — Where,  in  our  sky, 
should  we  look  for  clouds  ? — where  it  is  brighest: 
where  our  expectations  are  highest.  Our  sharpest 
sorrows  arise  out  of  our  sweetest  comforts.  Ra- 
chel said,  Give  me  children,  or  else  I  die  :  and  in  ob- 
taining what  she  esteemed  her  highest  comfort — 
what  she  would  have  at  any  rate — was  hidden  the 
cause  of  her  sharpest  grief.  God  gave  her  chil- 
dren ;  and,  in  bearing  her  second  child,  it  came  to 
pass,  as  her  soul  was  departing  (for  she  died.)  that  she 
called  his  name  Ben-oni — the  soa  of  my  sorrow. 

Who  is  the  most  miserable  man  on  earth  ? — and 
Whither  shall  we  go  to  seek  him  ?  Not  to  the  tav- 
ern !  not  to  the  theatre  !  not  even  to  a  brothel ! — hut 
to  the  church  !  That  man  who  has  sat  Sabbath  after 
Sabbath  under  the  awakening  and  affecting  calls 
of  the  gospel,  and  has  hardened  his  heart  against 
these  calls — he  is  the  man  whose  condition  is  the 
most  desperate  of  all  others.  Woe  unto  thee,  Cho- 
razin  !  woe  unto  thee,  Bethsaida  ! — and  thou,  Caper- 
naum, which  are  exalted  to  heaven,  shalt  be  thrust 
down  to  hell. 


Give  every  kind  of  knowledge  its  due  attention 
and  respect :  but  what  science  is  to  be  compared 
to  the  knowledge  of  Christ  crucified  ?  Had  a  trav- 
eller lost  his  way  in  some  desert,  where  he  had 
wandered  till  he  was  fainting  with  hunger  and 
thirst,  for  what  would  he  first  ask  ? — for  music  ? — 
paintings? — No! — he  would  ask  for  bread — for 
water!  Any  thing  else  offered  him  would  be  a 
mocking  of  his  misery. 


What  an  oppressive  burden  is  taken  off  a 
Christian's  shoulders,  by  his  privilege  of  leaving 


2SQ 


REMAINS   OF   SIR.  CECIL. 


all  consequences,  while  in  the  path  of  duty  to  God  ! 
He  has  done  with — "  how  shall  /hear  this  trouhle  !" 
—"How  shall  /  remove  this  difficulty? — ''How 
shall  /  get  through  this  deep  water?" — but  leaves 
himself  in  the  hands  of  God. 


We  may  form  some  idea  of  the  joys  of  heaven, 
by  the  innocent  pleasures  w  hich  God  grants  us 
on  earth.  Here  is  a  fine  situation,  with  wonder- 
ful prospects— every  thing  to  delight  the  senses: 
yet  all  this  we  find  in  a  world  w  hich  is  under  a 
curse!  what  then  may  we  not  expect  in  a  heaven- 
ly world,  where  God  exercises  all  his  power  for 
our  blessedness  ? 


However  ill  men  may  treat  us,  we  should  nev- 
er give  them  a  handle  to  say  that  we  misbehaved 
ourselves.  Were  I  to  meet  my  mo*t  bitter  adversary, 
and  know  that  he  was  come  with  the  most  mali- 
cious intentions,  I  should  endeavour  to  be  so  on 
my  guard,  that  be  could  not  lay  bis  finger,  with 
truth,  on  any  part  of  my  conduct. 


Toe  motive  determines  the  quality  of  actions. 
One  man  may  do  a  penurious  net,  because  he  knows 
he  shall  be  put  to  difficulties  if  he  does  not :  anoth- 
er may  do  the  same  from  mere  avarice.  The  king 
of  Edom  offered  up  his  son  on  the  wall,  and  his 
abominable  cruelty  excited  just  indignation:  but 
Abraham,  having  in  intention  offered  up  his  son, 
is  held  forth  to  all  generations  for  this  act  as  the 
father  of  the  faithful. 


It  is  always  a  sign  of  poverty  of  mind,  where 
men  are  ever  aiming  to  appear  great:  for  they, 
who  are  really  great,  never  seem  to  kuow  it. 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


251 


What  the  world  calls  tlie  best  company  is  such 
as  a  pious  mechanic  would  not  condescend  to 
keep:  he  would  rather  say,  Turn  away  mine  eyes 
from  beholding  vanity. 


One  way  of  reading  the  Bible  with  advantage  is, 
to  pay  it  great  homage  :  so  that,  when  we  come  to 
any  part  which  we  cannot  connect  with  other  pas- 
sages, we  must  conclude  that  this  arises  from  our 
ignorance,  but  that  the  seeming  contrarieties  are 
in  themselves  quite  reconcilable. 


Young  Christians  on  setting  out  in  life,  often 
mistake  greatly  in  not  sufficiently  attributing 
events  to  the  immediate  providence  of  God.  They 
are  not  reluctant,  at  the  end,  to  acknowledge  that 
their  way  has  been  directed  :  but  they  do  not 
enough  mark  it  as  they  go  on.  There  is  a  habit  of 
Baying,  "  Such  a  thing  may  turn  up,"  as  if  it  de- 
pended on  chance  ;  whereas  nothing  will  turn  up, 
but  what  was  ordered  long  before.  One  cause  of 
this  evil  is,  that  the  divinity  of  our  day  deals  too 
much  in  common-place  :  certain  fundamental  truths 
are  set  forth  :  and  if  a  man  professes  these  truths, 
too  little  account  is  made  of  the  faith,  dependence, 
and  other  "races  of  a  Christian.  When  a  man  be- 
comes a  Christian  be  is  written  upon,  as  it  were, 
"  to  be  provided  for  !" — and  he  ought,  therefore, 
to  notice,  as  he  goes  on,  bow  Providence  does  pro- 
vide for  him. 


Men  mistake  in  nothing  so  much,  as  when  they 
resist  their  dispensation  ;  for,  while  God  shutteth 
up  a  man,  there  can  be  no  opening.  Resistance 
does  but  make  the  dispensation  harder  to  he  borne. 
Job  says,  He  teareth himself  in  his  anger:  but  shall 
the  rock  be  removed  because  of  thee  !    The  man  is, 


852 


REMAINS   OF  MR.  CECIL. 


as  it  were,  in  a  labyrinth  :  ant)  the  hand,  which 
brought  him  in,  must  be  the  hand  to  conduct  him 
out. 


We  require  the.  same  hand  to  protect  us  in  ap- 
parent safety,  as  in  the  most  imminent  and  palpa- 
ble danger.  One  of  the  most  wicked  men  in  my 
neighborhood  was  riding  near  a  precipice,  and 
fell  over:  his  horse  was  killed,  but  he  escaped 
without  injury :  instead  of  thanking  God  for  his 
deliverance,  he  refused  to  acknowledge  the  hand 
of  God  therein  :  but  attributed  his  escape  to  chance. 
The  same  man  was  afterward  riding  on  a  very 
smooth  road:  his  horse  suddenly  tripped  and  fell, 
and  threw  his  rider  over  his  head,  and  killed  him 
on  the  spot,  while  the  horse  escaped  unhurt. 


If  a  man  is  dead  in  sin,  our  attempting  to  correct 
his  false  notions  is  like  laving  a  dead  man  straight, 
who  before  was  lying  crooked.  The  man  is  dead, 
and  will  remain  so;  though,  before,  he  was  lying 
crooked,  and  is  now  lying  straight.  It  matters 
little  what  right  notions  we  may  have,  while  we 
are  dead  in  sin  ;  for  we  shall  never  act  up  to  them, 
till  God  awakens  our  hearts. 


To  have  too  much  forethought,  is  the  part  of  a 
wretch  ;  to  have  too  little,  is  the  part  of  a  fool. 


Self-will  is  so  ardent  and  active,  that  it  will 
break  a  world  to  pieces,  to  make  a  stool  to  sit  on. 


We  are  too  little  acquainted  with  the  sacred 
character  of  God.  A  certain  man  sold  a  possession, 
and  brought  a  certain  part  of  the  price.  We  should 
have  thought  this  a  generous  act :  but  God  saw 
that  there  wanted  a  right  estimation  of  his  charac- 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


253 


ter.  Many  sins  are  suffered  to  pass,  to  be  punish- 
ed hereafter:  but  God  sometimes  breaks  out,  and 
strikes  an  offender  dead  in  vindication  of  his  own 
glory. 


Remember  always  to  mix  good  sense  with  good 
things,  or  they  will  become  disgusting. 

Things  are  not  to  be  done  by  the  effort  of  the 
moment,  but  by  the  preparation  of  past  moments. 


If  there  is  any  person  to  whom  you  feel  dislike, 
that  is  the  person  of  whom  you  ought  never  to 
speak. 

Irritability  urges  us  to  take  a  step  as  much 
too  soon,  as  sloth  does  too  late. 


When  we  read  the  Bible  we  must  always  re- 
member, that  like  the  holy  waters  seen  by  Ezekiel* 
it  is  in  some  places,  up  to  the  mikles  ;  in  others,  up 
tothe  knees  ;  in  others,  tip to  the  loins;  and  in  some 
a  river  too  deep  to  be  fathomed, and  that  cannot  be 
passed  over.  There  is  light  enough  to  guide  the 
humble  and  teachable  to  heaven,  and  obscurity 
enough  to  confound  the  unbeliever. 


True  religion  as  revealed  in  the  scriptures  may 
be  compared  to  a  plum  on  the  tree,  covered  with 
its  bloom.  Men  gather  the  plum,  and  handle  it, 
and  turn  and  twist  it  about,  till  it  is  deprived  of  all 
its  native  bloom  and  beauty:  the  fairest  hand 
■would  as  much  rob  the  plum  of  its  bloom,  as  any 
other.  Now  all  that  little  party-spirit,  which  so 
much  prevails  among  men,  and  which  leads  them 


*  Ezek.  ch.  xlvii. 


251 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


to  say,  lam  of  Paul  and  I  o/Apollos — is  but  hand- 
ling the  plum  till  it  loses  its  bloom. 


There  are  but  too  classes  of  the  wise  : — the  men 
who  serve  God  because  they  have  found  him:  and 
the  men  who  seek  him,  because  they  have  found 
him  not.  All  others  may  say,  /*•  there  not  a  lie  in 
my  right  hand  ? 


Philosophy  is  a  proud,  sullen  detecter  of  the 
poverty  and  misery  of  man.  It  may  turn  him  from 
the  world  with  a  proud,  sturdy  contempt :  but  it 
cannot  come  forward,  and  say,  "  Here  are  rest — 
grace — peace — strength — consolation  !" 


We  hear  much  of  a  decent  pride — a  becoming 
pride — a  noble  pride — a  laudable  pride  !  Can 
that  be  decent,  of  which  we  ought  to  be  asham- 
ed?— Can  that  be  becoming,  of  which  God  has 
set  forth  the  deformity  ? — Can  that  be  noble, 
which  God  resists,  and  is  determined  to  debase? — 
Can  that  be  laudable,  which  God  calls  abomina- 
ble. 

Many  things  are  spoken  of,  in  the  Scriptures,  as 
good:  but  there  is  not  one  thing  emphatically 
called  good,  which  does  not  relate  to  Christ  or  his 
coming. 


Sat  the  strongest  things  you  can,  with  candor 
and  kindness,  to  a  man's  face  ;  and  make  the  best 
excuse  you  can  for  him,  witli  truth  and  justice, 
behind  his  back. 


Many  people  labor  to  make  the  narrow  way 
wider.  They  may  dig  a  path  into  the  broad  way  ; 
but  the  way  to  life  must  remain  a  narrow  way  to 
the  end. 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


'2.5.5 


All  extremes  are  error.  The  reverse  of  error 
is  not  truth,  but  error.  Truth  lies  between  these 
extremes. 


I  have  no  doubt,  but  that  there  are  persons  of 
every  description,  under  every  possible  circum- 
stance, in  every  lawful  calling  among  Christians, 
who  will  go  to  heaven— that  all  the  world  may 
see,  that  neither  their  circumstances  nor  calling 
prevented  their  being  among  the  number  of  the 
blessed. 


God  has  given  us  four  books: — the  Book  of 
Grace;  the  Book  of  Nature;  the  Book  of  the 
World;  and  the  Book  of  Providence.  Every  oc- 
currence is  a  leaf  in  one  of  these  books:  it  does 
not  become  us  to  be  negligent  in  the  use  of  any 
of  them. 


Eloquence  is  vehement  simplicity. 


God  is  omniseent  as  well  as  omnipotent;  and 
omniscience  may  see  reason  to  withhold  what 
omnipotence  could  bestow. 


Attend  to  the  presence  of  God:  this  will  dig- 
nify a  small  congregation,  and  annihilate  a  large 
one. 


Having  some  business  to  transact  with  a  gen- 
tleman in  the,  city,  I  called  one  day  at  his  count- 
ing house:  he  begged  I  would  call  again,  as  I 
had  so  much  more  time  to  spare  than  he  had,  who 
was  a  man  of  business.  "An  hour  is  nothing  to 
you,"  said  he — "  An  hour  nothing  to  a  clergyman!" 
said  I:  "you  seem  little  to  understand  the  nature 
of  our  profession.    One  hour  of  a  clergyman's 


250 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


time  rightly  employed,  Sir,  is  worth  more  to  him 
than  all  the  gains  of  your  merchandise." 


If  a  man  has  a  quarrelsome  temper,  let  him 
alone.  The  world  will  soon  find  him  employment. 
He  will  soon  meet  with  some  one  stronger  than 
himself,  who  will  repay  him  better  than  you  can. 
A  man  may  fight  duels  all  his  lile,  if  he  is  disposed 
to  quarrel. 


One  day  I  got  off  my  horse  to  kill  a  rat,  which 
I  found  on  the  road  only  half  killed.  I  am  shocked 
at  the  thoughtless  cruelty  of  many  people,  yet  I  did 
a  thing  soon  after,  that  has  given  me  considerable 
uneasiness,  and  for  which  I  reproach  myself  bit- 
terly. As  I  was  riding  homeward,  I  saw  a  wagon 
standing  at  a  door,  with  three  horses :  the  two 
foremost  were  eating  their  coi  n  from  bags  at  their 
noses  ;  but  I  observed  the  third  had  riropt  his  on 
the  ground,  and  could  not  stoop  to  get  any  food. 
However,  I  rode  on,  in  absence,  without  assisting 
him.  But  when  I  had  got  nearly  home,  I  re- 
membered what  I  had  observed  in  my  absence  of 
mind,  and  felt  extremely  hurt  at  my  neglect;  and 
would  have  ridden  back  had  I  not  thought  the 
wagoner  might  have  come  out  of  the  house  and 
relieved  the  horse.  A  man  could  not  have  had  a 
better  demand  for  getting  off  his  horse,  than  for 
such  an  act  of  humanity.  It  is  by  absence  of  inind, 
that  we  omit  many  duties. 


A  wicked  man  is  a  candidate  for  nothing  but 
hell ! — However  he  may  live,  if  his  conscience  were 
awake,  he  would  turn  pale  at  this  question:  What 
shall  I  do  in  the  end  thereof? 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


257 


There  is  n  great  defect  in  Gray's  Elegy.  You 
cannot  read  it  without  feeling  a  melancholy  :  there 
is  no  sunshine  — no  hope  after  death  :  it  shews  the 
dark  side  only  of  mortality.  But  a  man  refined  as 
he  was,  and  speculating  on  the  hankruptcy  of  hu- 
man nature,  if  he  brought  not  evangelical  views 
into  the  estimate,  could  describe  human  nature 
only  as  hopeless  and  forlorn  :  whereas  what  he 
felt  a  subject  of  melancholy,  is  with  me  included 
in  the  calculation.  I  know  it  must  he  so,  and,  ac- 
cording lo  my  views,  should  he  disappointed  if  it 
were  not  so — My  kingdom,  said  our  Lord,  is  not  of 
this  world. 

Revelation  never  staggers  me.  There  may  be 
a  ttrtium  quid,  though  we  are  not  yet  in  possession 
of  it,  which  would  put  an  end  to  all  our  present 
doubts  and  questions.  I  w  as  one  day  riding  with 
a  friend:  we  were  discussing  a  subject,  and  I  ex- 
pressed myself  surprised  that  such  a  measure  was 
not  adapted.  "If  I  were  to  tell  you  one  thing," 
said  he,  "  it  would  make  all  clear."  I  gave  him 
credit  that  there  did  exist  something,  which  would 
entirely  dispel  my  objections.  Now  if  this  be  the 
case,  in  many  instances,  between  man  and  man,  is 
it  an  unreasonable  conclusion,  that  all  the  unac- 
countable points',  which  we  may  observe  in  the 
providence  and  government  of  God,  should  be  all 
perfection  in  the  Divine  mind?  Take  the  growth 
of  a  seed — I  cannot  possibly  say  w  hat  first  pro- 
duces progress  of  growth  in  the  grain.  Take  vol- 
untary motion  —  I  cannot  possibly  say  where  action 
begins  and  thought  ends.  The  proportion  between 
a  fly's  mind  and  a  man's  is  no  adequate  illustra- 
tion of  the  stale  of  man  with  respect  to  God;  be- 
cause there  is  some  proportion  between  the  minds 
or  faculties  of  two  finite  creatures,  but  there  can 
be  none  between  finite  man  and  the  infinite  God. 


258 


REMAINS    01    MR.  CECIL. 


One  little  preacher  will  endeavor  to  prove,  with 
a  great  deal  of  warmth,  the  truth  of  Calvinistic 
principles  : — and  another  little  preacher  will  clearly 
demonstrate  the  truth  of  the  Arminian  scheme. 
Good  sense  will  go  between  them, and  say,  "There 
are  certain  tilings  written  on  these  subjects — Thus 
saith  the  Lord:"  good  sense  will  hesitate  to  push 
what  is  said  to  all  its  apparent  conclusions,  for — 
It  is  written  again.  Here  ends  all  dogmatism  with 
a  wise  man. 

A  mouse  that  had  lived  all  his  life  in  a  chest, 
says  the  fable,  chanced  one  day  to  creep  up  to  the 
edge,  and,  peeping  out,  exclaimed  with  wonder — 
"I  did  not  think  the  world  was  so  large." 

The  first  step  to  knowledge,  is  to  know  that 
we  are  ignorant :  It  is  a  great  point  to  know 
our  place:  for  want  of  this,  a  man  in  private 
life,  instead  of  attending  to  the  affairs  in  his 
"chest,"  is  ever  peeping  out,  and  then  he  becomes 
a  philosopher!  he  must  then  know  every  thing, 
and  presumptuously  pry  into  the  deep  anil  secret 
councils  of  God —not  considering  that  man  is 
finite,  and  has  no  faculties  to  comprehend  and 
judge  of  the  great  scheme  of  things.  We  can 
form  no  other  idea  of  the  dispensations  of  God, 
nor  can  have  any  knowledge  of  spiritual  things, 
except  what  God  has  taught  us  in  his  word  ;  and, 
where  he  stops,  we  must  stop.  He  has  not  told 
us  why  he  permitted  the  angels  to  fall — why  he 
created  Adam — why  he  suffered  sin  to  enter  into 
the  world— why  Christ  came  in  the  latter  ages — 
when  he  will  come  to  judgment — what  will  be  the 
doom  of  the  Heathen  nations — nor  why  our  state 
throughout  eternity  was  made  to  depend  on  such 
a  moment  as  man's  life:  all  these  are  secrets  of 
his  council.  Where  wast  thou,  when  I  laid  the  foun- 
dations of  the  earth?  God  urges  it  on  us  again  and 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


259 


again,  that  sin  has  entered — and  that  we  must 
flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.  Christ,  in  the  days  of 
liis  flesh,  never  gratified  curiosity  :  he  answered 
every  inquiry  according  to  the  spirit  of  the  in- 
quirer, Dot  according  to  the  letter  of  the  inquiry: 
if  any  man  came  in  humility  for  instruction,  he 
always  instructed  ;  but,  when  any  came  to  gratify 
a  vain  curiosity,  he  answered,  as  when  one  said, 
Lord,  are  there  few  that  be  saved'.1 — strive  to 

ENTER   IN    AT   THE   STRAIT    GATe!  Of,    aS  when 

another  inquired,  Lird,  and  what  shall  this  man 
do  ? — What  is  that  to  thee  ?   Follow  thou  me. 


We  are  too  ready  to  say  in  trouble,  All  these 
things  are  against  me!  but  a  Christian  should  say, 
"  Tbis  or  that  may  seem  against  me  ;  but  there  is 
mercy  for  me  :  there  is  a  Saviour  :  there  is  God's 
word  :  and  there  are  his  ordinances."  He  should 
be  more  careful  to  enumerate  what  is  for  him, 
than  what  is  against  him.  ile  should  look  over 
the  list  of  his  spiritual  and  temporal  mercies,  as 
well  as  that  of  bis  sorrows;  and  remember,  that 
what  things  are  against  him  are  so  on  account 
of  his  sin.  Our  pilgrimage  is  but  short: — let  us 
make  use  of  our  helps  and  means.  God  has  given 
us  a  guide,  and  a  support  to  lean  on:  when  the 
clouds  gather,  we  have  only  to  look  to  Jesus. 
We  are  not  to  expect  the  joys  of  heaven  while  on 
earth: — let  us  be  content  that  there  is  a  highway 
for  us  to  walk  in,  and  a  leader  to  conduct  us  in 
that  way. 


It  is  a  Christian's  business,  as  much  as  possible, 
consistently  with  his  duty,  to  lessen  his  cares  and 
occupations  in  the  world.  It  is  very  common  to 
hear  Christians  complain  what  a  hinderance  busi- 
ness is,  while  they  are,  perhaps,  at  the  very  time 


260 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


too  anxious  to  increase  it!  There  is  some  fallacy, 
too,  in  the  complaint:  for,  where  there  is  a  prin- 
ciple of  grace,  it  will  prevail  even  in  a  multitude 
of  engagements.  There  is  much  difference  be- 
tween seeking  busy  situations,  and  being  found 
in  them. 


What  we  call  "  taking  steps  in  life,"  are  most 
serious  occurrences; — especially  if  there  he,  in  the 
motive,  any  mixture  of  ambition.  Wherefore  gad- 
dest  thou  about  to  change  thy  way  ? 


The  dispensation  of  grace  to  some,  is  little  more 
than  a  continual  combat  with  corruptions  :  so  that, 
instead  of  advancing,  a  man  seems  to  be  but  just 
able  to  preserve  himself  from  sinking.  A  boat, 
with  the  tide  full  against  it,  does  well  if  it  can 
keep  from  driving  back,  and  must  have  strong 
force  indeed  to  get  forward.  We  must  estimate 
grace  by  the  opposition  which  it  meets  with. 


How  blessed  is  the  Christian,  in  the  midst  of  bis 
greatest  troubles!  It  is  true  we  cannot  say  he  is 
perfect  in  holiness — that  he  has  ne\er  any  doubts 
— that  his  peace  of  mind  is  never  interrupted — 
that  he  never  mistakes  providence  :  but,  after  all, 
his  is  a  blessed  condition  ;  for  he  is  supported 
under  his  trials,  and  instructed  by  the  discipline: 
and,  as  to  his  fears,  the  evil  under  the  apprehen- 
sion of  which  he  is  ready  to  sink,  frequently  does 
not  come — or  it  does  not  continue — or  it  is  turned 
into  a  blessing. 


One  of  the  greatest  impositions  of  Satan  on  the 
mind,  is  that  of  quieting  a  man  in  the  pursuit  or 
possession  of  what  is  lawful.  So  that  tf  it  is  not 
murder,  or  adultery,  or  theft,  which  he  is  commit- 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


261 


ting,  ail  is  well !  Because  a  man's  bed  is  his  own, 
he  may  idle  away  in  it  his  inestimable  time!  Be- 
cause his  business  is  lawful,  a  man  may  intoxicate 
his  mind  with  the  pursuit  of  it! 


The  very  heart  and  root  of  sin,  is  an  indepen- 
dent spirit.  We  erect  the  idol  self  ;  and  not 
only  wish  others  to  worship,  but  worship  it  our- 
selves. 


We  must  take  care  when  we  draw  parallel 
cases,  not  to  take  such  as  are  not  or  cannot  be 
made  parallel.  For  instance — we  may  ask,  before 
we  act,  "  What  would  Jesus  Christ  do  in  this  case  ? 
or  what  would  St.  Paid?"  but  we  cannot  be 
guided  by  this  rule  in  every  thing,  because  Christ's 
mission  was  peculiar:  it  was  an  unparalleled 
event:  it  was  for  three  years  only:  and,  like  a 
great  fire,  he  was  always  burning — always  intent 
on  one  point.  St.  Paid  also  was  in  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances :  he  was  sent  on  an  especial  errand. 
In  every  thing  which  is  in  any  degree  sinful,  we 
should  turn  to  these  examples  ;  but,  in  the  conduct 
peculiar  to  our  station,  our  application  of  these 
examples  must  be  governed  by  circumstances. 

Many  inexperienced  Christians  are  apt  to  look 
for  wrong  kinds  of  evidences,  and  so  distress 
themselves  about  their  state.  The  questions 
which  we  should  put  to  ourselves,  in  seeking  the 
best  evidences,  are — "  Do  I  hate  sin  ! — Is  it  my 
grand  fear? — Is  it  my  grief,  that,  while  1  have  a 
good  hope  of  pardon,  I  yet  should  make  such  ill 
returns?  Have  I  brokenness  of  spirit?" — Godli- 
ness is  analogous  to  the  principle  of  gravitation,  in 
that  it  reduces  every  thing  to  its  proper  centre. 


262 


REMAINS    OF   MR.  CECIL. 


The  difference  between  what  is  called  fate, 
and  prfpestination,  is  something  like  that  of  a 
house  without  a  governor,  and  a  house, with  a  gov- 
ernor. The  Fatalist  says,  "Everything  must,  of 
necessity,  he  as  it  is — as  a  stone  must  full  to  the 
ground,  fire  must  ascend,  &c.  The  Predestina- 
rian  says,  that  every  thing  is  determined  by  a 
wise  Governor,  who  inspects,  orders,  and  superin- 
tends the  whole  machine  ;  so  that  a  sparrow  does 
not  fall  to  the  ground,  or  a  hair  of  the  head  per- 
ish, without  permission. 

We  are  so  accustomed  to  see  sin  within  and 
without  us,  that  we  seldom  deeply  feel  it,  or  are 
so  shocked  at  it,  as  we  should  be  were  it  less  fre- 
quent. If  an  inhabitant  of  the  court  were  to  walk 
through  some  of  the  filthy  streets  and  alleys  of  the 
metropolis,  how  would  he  be  disgusted  and  terri- 
fied !  while  the  poor  wretches,  who  live  in  them, 
think  nothing  of  the  matter.  Thus  a  clearer  view 
of  sin  and  of  the  holiness  of  Gnd,  made  the 
prophet  cry  out,  Wo  is  me  !  for  J  rim  undone  ;  be- 
cause I  am  a  man  of  unclean  lips,  and  [dwell  in  the 
midst  of  a  people  of  unclean  lips  :  for  mine  et/es  have 
seen  the  King,  the  Lord  of  Hosts. 

It  is  much  easier  to  settle  a  point,  than  to 
act  on  it. 

I  oncf  said  to  myself,  in  the  foolishness  of  my 
heart,  "What  sort  of  sermon  must  that  have 
been  which  was  preached  by  St.  Peter,  when 
three  thousand  souls  were  converted  at  once  ?" 
— What  sort  of  sermon  ! — such  as  other  sermons. 
There  is  nothing  to  be  found  in  it  extraordinary. 
The  effect  was  not  produced  by  St.  Peter's  elo- 
quence: but  by  the  mighty  power  of  Gnd,  present 
with  his  word.    It  is  in  vain  to  attend  one  minis- 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


263 


ter  after  another,  and  to  hear  sermon  after  ser- 
mon, unless  we  pray  that  the  Holy  Spirit  accom- 
pany his  word.  Neither  is  he  that  planteth  any 
thing,  neither  he  that  ivatereth  ;  but  God  that  giveth 
the  increase. 

That  humility  which  courts  notice,  is  not  first- 
rate.  It  may  he  sincere,  hut  it  is  sullied.  Do 
not  sound  a  trumpet,  nor  say,  "Come  and  see  how 
huiiihle  I  am !" 

We  should  he  careful  never  to  discourage  any 
one  who  is  searching  after  God.  If  a  man  begins 
in  earnest  to  feel  after  him  if  haply  he  may  find  him, 
let  us  he  aware  how  we  stop  him,  by  rashly  telling 
him  he  is  not  seeking  in  the  right  way.  This 
would  he  like  setting  fire  to  the  first  round  of  the 
ladder,  by  w  hich  one  was  attempting  to  escape. 
We  must  wait  for  a  fit  season  to  communicate 
light.  Had  any  one  told  me,  when  I  first  began 
to  think  religiously,  that  I  was  not  seeking  God  in 
the  right  way,  I  might  have  been  discouraged 
from  seeking  him  at  all.  I  was  much  indebted  to 
my  mother,  for  her  truly  wise  and  judicious  con- 
duct toward  me  when  1  first  turned  from  my  van- 
ity and  sin. 

We  should  always  record  our  thoughts  in  afflic- 
tion— set  up  way-marks — set  up  our  Bethels — 
erect  our  Ebenezers  ;  that  we  may  recur  to  them 
in  health  ;  for  then  we  are  in  other  circumstances, 
and  can  never  recover  our  sick-bed  views. 

A  contemplative  life  has  more  the  appearance 
of  a  life  of  piety  than  any  other:  but  it  is  the  di- 
vine plan  to  bring  faith  into  activity  and  exer- 
cise. We  choose  that  sort  of  walk,  which  we 
like  best :  if  we  love  quiet,  we  are  for  sedentary 


264 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL- 


piety  ;  but  the  design  of  God  is  to  root  us  out  of 
every  tiling,  and  bring  us  into  more  useful  stations. 


A  wretched  prisoner,  chained  to  the  floor  for 
a  length  of  time,  would  deem  it  a  high  privilege  to 
be  allowed  to  walk  across  the  room.  Another, 
confined  to  lie  on  his  back  till  it  had  become  sore, 
would  think  it  a  great  favor  if  he  might  be  per- 
mitted to  turn  on  his  s  de  for  a  few  minutes.  In 
a  course  of  habitual  pain,  I  am  thankful  for  five 
minutes' freedom  from  Buffering:  how  forgetful 
have  I  been  of  fifty  years  of  tolerable  ease  !  How 
unmindful  are  we  of  what  we  call  common 
mercies ! 

In  order  to  read  the  Bible  with  profit,  we  must 
begin  by  denying  ourselves  every  step  of  the  way: 
for,  every  step  of  the  way,  it  will  he  found  to  op- 
pose our  corrupt  nature. 

Christians  resemble  travellers  in  a  stage- 
coach. We  are  full  of  our  plans  and  schemes,  but 
the  coach  is  moving  rapidly  forward  :  it  passes 
one  mile-stone,  and  then  another;  and  no  regard 
is  paid  to  the  plots  and  plans  of  the  passengers. 

A  christian  has  advanced  but  a  little  way  in 
religion  when  he  has  overcome  the  love  of  the 
world  :  for  he  has  still  more  powerful  and  impor- 
tunate enemies:  self — evil  tempers — pride — undue 
affections — a  stubborn  will — it  is  by  the  subduing 
of  these  adversaries,  that  we  must  chiefly  judge  of 
our  growth  in  grace. 

A  friend  called  on  me  w  hen  I  was  ill,  to  settle 
6ome  business.  My  head  was  too  much  confused 
by  my  indisposition  to  understand  fully  what  he 
said;  but  I  bad  such  unlimited  confidence  in  bim, 


REMAINS   OF    MR.  CECIL. 


21.55 


that  I  did  whatever  he  bid  me,  in  the  fullest  assur- 
ance that  it  was  right.  How  simply  I  can  trust  in 
man,  and  how  little  in  God!  How  unreasonable  is 
a  pure  act  of  faith  in  one  like  ourselves,  if  we  can- 
not repose  the  same  faith  in  God. 


Some  negative  rules,  given  to  a  Young  Minister  going 
into  a  situation  of  peculiar  difficulty. 
As  I  know  you  have  received  much  good  ad- 
vice, I  would  suggest  to  you  a  few  hints  of  a 
negative  kind  ;  w  ith  a  view  of  admonishing  you  to 
be  careful,  while  you  are  doing  your  work,  not  by 
any  mistakes  of  your  own  to  hinderyour  success — 

I.  By  forgetting  that  your  success  ivith  others  is 
very  much  connected  with  your  personal  character. 

Herod  heard  John  gladly,  and  he  did  many 
things;  because  he  knew  the  preacher  to  be  a  just 
and  holy  man.  Words  uttered  from  the  heart 
find  their  way  to  the  heart,  by  a  holy  sympathy. 
Character  is  power: — 

"  A  good  man  seen,  though  silent,  counsel  gires." 

If  you  would  make  deep  impressions  on  others, 
you  must  use  all  means  to  have  them  first  formed 
on  your  own  mind.  Avoid,  at  the  same  time,  all 
appearances  of  evil — as  a  covetous  or  worldly,  a 
vain  or  assuming,  careless  or  indevout  deportment. 
Never  suffer  jesting  with  sacred  persons  or  things. 
Satan  will  employ  such  antidotes  as  these,  to 
counteract  the  operation  of  that  which  is  effective 
and  gracious  in  a  minister's  character. 

II.  By  placing  your  dependence  on  any  means, 
qualities,  or  circumstances,  however  excellent  in 
themselves. 

The  direct  way  to  render  a  thing  weak,  is  to 


'266 


REMAINS    OF    MR.  CECIL. 


lean  on  it  as  strong.  God  is  a  jealous  God  ;  and 
will  utterly  abolish,  idols  as  a  means  of  success. 
He  designs  to  demonstrate  ttiat  men  and  crea- 
tures are  what  he  makes  them,  and  that  only. 
This  also  should  he  your  encouragement : — look- 
ing, in  the  diligent  and  humble  use  of  means,  to 
that  Spirit  of  life  and  power  without  w  hose  influ- 
ence all  your  endeavors  will  be  to  no  purpose, 
you  have  reason  to  expect  help  suited  and  ade- 
quate to  all  your  difficulties. 

III.  By  unnecessarily  appearing  in  dangerous  or 
improper  situations. 

It  is  one  thing  to  be  humble  and  condescend- 
ing:  it  is  another  to  render  yourself  common, 
cheap,  and  contemptible.  The  men  of  the  world 
know  when  a  minister  is  out  of  his  place — when 
they  can  oppress  him  by  numbers  or  circum- 
stances— w  hen  they  can  make  him  laugh,  while 
his  office  frowns.  Well  will  it  be  for  him,  if  he  is 
only  rendered  absurd  in  his  future  public  admo- 
nitions, by  his  former  compliances ;  well  if,  being 
found  like  St.  Peter  on  dangerous  ground,  he  is 
not  seduced,  virtually  at  least,  to  deny  his  Master. 

IV.  By  suspicious  appearances  in  his  family. 

As  the  head  of  your  household  you  are  respon- 
sible for  its  appearances.  lis  pride,  sloth,  and 
disorder  will  be  yours.  You  are  accountable  for 
your  wife's  conduct,  dress,  and  manners,  as  well 
as  those  of  your  childi  en,  w  hose  education  must 
be  peculiarly  exemplary.  Your  family  is  to  be  a 
picture  of  what  you  wish  other  families  to  be: 
and,  without  the  "most  determined  resolution,  in 
reliance  on  God,  to  finish  this  picture  cost  what 
it  will,  your  recommending  family  religion  to 
others  will  but  create  a  smile.  Your  unfriendly 
hearers  will  recollect  enough  of  Scripture  to  tell 
you  that  you  ought,  like  the  primitive  Bishop,  to 
be  one,  that  rulelh  uell  Lis  oun  house,  having  his 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


267 


children  in  subjection  rvith  all  gravity :  for  if  a  man 
know  not  how  to  rule  his  own  house,  how  shall  he 
take  care  of  the  church  of  God  ? 

V.  By  meddling  beyond  your  sphere  in  temporals. 
Your  aim  and  conversation,  like  your  sacred 

call,  are  to  be  altogether  heavenly.  As  a  man  of 
God,  you  have  no  concern  with  politics  and  par- 
ties and  schemes  of  interest,  but  you  are  to  live 
above  them.  There  is  a  sublime  spirit  in  a  de- 
voted minister,  which,  as  one  says  of  Christianity 
itself,  pays  no  more  regard  to  these  things,  than  to 
the  battles  of  rooks,  the  industry  of  ants,  or  the 
policy  of  bees. 

VI.  By  venturing  off  general  and  acknowledged 
ground  in  spirituals. 

By  giving  strong  meat  instead  of  milk,  to  those 
who  are  yet  but  babes — by  giving  heed  to  fables, 
which  minister  questions  rather  than  godly  edifying ; 
amusing  the  mind,  but  not  affecting  the  heart: 
often  disturbing  and  bewildering,  seldom  convinc- 
ing; frequently  raising  a  smile,  never  drawing  a 
tear. 

VII.  By  maintaining  acknowledged  truth  in  your 
own  spirit. 

Both  food  and  medicines  are  injurious,  if  ad- 
ministered scalding  hot.  The  spirit  of  a  teacher 
often  effects  more  than  his  matter.  Benevolence 
is  a  universal  language:  and  it  will  apologize  for 
a  multitude  of  defects,  in  the  man  who  speaks  it  ; 
while  neither  talents  nor  truth  will  apologize  for 
pride,  illiberality,  or  bitterness.  Avoid,  therefore 
irritating  occasions  and  persons,  particularly  dis- 
putes and  disputants,  by  which  a  minister  often 
loses  his  temper  and  his  character. 

VIII.  By  being  too  sharp-sighted,  too  quick-ear- 
ed, or  loo  ready-tongued. 

Some  evils  are  irremediable:  they  are  best 
neither  seen  nor  heard  :  by  seeing  and  hearing 


268 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


things  which  you  cannot  remove,  you  will  create 
implacable  adversaries;  who,  being  guilty  ag- 
gressors, never  forgive.  Avoid  speaking  meanly 
or  harshly  of  any  one  :  not  only  because  this  is 
forbidden  to  Christians,  but  because  it  is  to  de- 
clare war  as  by  a  thousand  heralds. 

IX.  By  the  temptations  arising  from  the  female 
sex. 

I  need  not  mention  what  havoc  Satan  has  made 
in  the  church,  by  th's  means,  from  the  fall  to  this 
day.  Your  safety,  when  in  danger  from  this  quar- 
ter, lies  in  flight — to  parley  is  10  fall.  Take  the 
first  hint  from  conscience,  or  from  friends. 

In  fine,  Watch  thou  in  all  things;  endure  afflic- 
tions :  do  the  work  of  an  evangelist :  make  full  proof 
of  thy  ministry  :  and  then,  whether  those  arouud 
you  acknowledge  your  real  character  or  not  now, 
they  shall  one  day  know  that  there  hath  been  a 
prophet  among  them .' 


FRAGMENT. 

A  Dying  Minister's  Farewell. 

When  a  Christian  minister  feels  the  springs  of 
life  giving  way  : — his  faculties  decaying — his  voice 
failing — his  spirit  sinking — though  he  may  not  have 
it  in  his  power  to  say,  as  the  apostle  did  to  his 
friends,  1  know  that  ye  all,  among  whom  I  have 
preached  the  kingdom  of  God,  shall  see  my  face  no 
more — yet  he  should  stand  ready  to  part  with  his 
flock,  and  every  sermon  should  be  felt  by  him  as 
if  it  were  his  last. 

Wherefore  I  take  you  to  record  this  day,  that  1  am 
pure  Jrom  the  blood  of  all  men  :  for  I  have  not  shun- 
ned to  declare  unto  you  all  the  counsel  of  god. 


REMAINS   OF  MR.  CECIL. 


269 


And  what  have  I  declared  that  counsel  of  God  to 
be  ? — All  the  curious  distinctions  of  the  schools? — 
All  the  peculiarities  insisted  on  so  strongly  by  dif- 
ferent sects? — No  such  thing  !  I  have  followed  the 
great  apostle  in  testifying  repentance  toward  God 
and  faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

There  has  been  a  slander  brought  against  reli- 
gion— that  we  are  not  agreed,  as  to  the  truths 
we  set  before  men.  I  say,  it  is  false  !  We  are 
agreed.  All,  who  know  any  thing  of  real  religion, 
are  agreed,  that  the  substance  of  the  matter  is  con- 
tained in  repentance  toward  God,  and  faith  to- 
ward our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

If  a  man,  like  the  prodigal,  feels  that  he  has  left 
his  father's  house — turned  his  back  on  God — and 
is  become  a  fool  and  a  madman  tor  so  doing — and 
that  there  is  no  hope  hut  in  his  returning  again  : 
if  such  a  change  of  mind  is  wrought  in  him  by  the 
Holy  Spirit,  as  he  wrought  in  David,  when  he  cried, 
Wash  me  thoroughly  from  my  iniquity,  and  cleanse  me 
from  my  sin:  if,  like  Peter,  he  goes  forth  weeping 
bitterly — feeling  that  he  has  acted  foolishly  and 
wickedly,  and  that  his  only  hope  is  in  the  mercy  of 
God  through  the  Saviour — then  the  man  enters  so 
far  into  the  spirit  of  religion — repentance  to- 
ward God. 

But  does  he  rest  in  this  ?  Nay,  he  knows  that  if 
he  could  offer  thousands  of  rams,  and  ten  thousands 
of  rivers  of  oil,  he  could  make  no  satisfaction  for  the 
sin  of  his  soul.  He  looks  to  the  atonement! — to 
Him,  whom  God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation 
through  faith  in  his  blood. 

Repentance  toward  God  Will st  be  accompanied  by 
faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

He  came  unto  his  own,  and  his  own  received  him 
not.  But  as  many  as  received  him,  to  them  gave  he 
power  to  become  the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them  that 
believe  on  his  name :  which  were  born  not  of  blood, 


270 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


nor  of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man,  but 
of  God.  These  men  are  enabled  to  say  with  St. 
Paul,  "  1  count  all  things  but  loss  for  the  excellency  of 
the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.  I  have  no 
refuge  but  in  him — no  other  hope — no  other  plea. 
All  my  confidence  before  God  is  grounded  on  this 
— that  He  suffered,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  he 
might  bring  us  to  God." 

If  a  minister  testifies  these  things— if  he  speaks 
plainly  and  simply  these  grand  essential  truths  of 
God's  word — though  he  die  before  another  Sab- 
bath return,  he  hat  rest  in  peace — leaving  the 
issue  in  God's  hand. 

The  ground  of  a  minister's  own  solid  satisfaction 
cannot  be  popularity  :  for  even  to  Simon  Ma- 
gus all  gave  heed,  from  the  least  to  the  greatest,  saying, 
This  man  is  the  great  power  of  God  .'  —neither  can 
he  ground  his  satisfaction  on  the  exercise  of  strong 
and  enlarged  talents:  for  even  Balaam  was  a 
man  of  extraordinary  endowments — nor  can  it  be 
on  his  success  : — for  many,  aaith  our  Lord,  shall 
come  to  me,  and  say,  Have  we  not  done  many  wonder- 
ful works  in  thy  name,  and  in  thy  name  cast  out  dev- 
ils'? Then  will  I  profess  unto  them,  I  never  knew 
you!  As  though  he  had  said,  "  I  deny  not  the  works, 
but  ye  are  evil  men  !" 

But  a  minister's  satisfaction  must  be  grounded 
on  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  office  in  the  de- 
livery of  his  message.  A  Prince  sends  a  spe- 
cial messenger  to  his  rebellious  subjects,  with  of- 
fers of  pardon  :  in  examining  his  conduct,  he  will 
not  inquire  whether  they  received  anil  approved 
him  or  not :  the  question  will  he — "  Did  you  de- 
liver my  message?  did  yon  deliver  it  as  one  that 
believed  it  yourself?  as  one  in  earnest  ?"  If  a 
man  should  come  and  tell  you,  with  a  cheerful 
countenance  and  careless  air,  that  your  house  was 
on  fire,  and  that  you  and  your  children  would  be 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


271 


burnt  in  the  flumes  if  you  did  not  make  haste  to 
escape,  you  would  not  believe  him.  You  would 
say,  "He  does  not  believe  it  himself,  or  lie  would 
not  be  so  unfeeling  as  to  speak  of  it  in  such  a  man- 
ner." 

If  a  minister  delivers  his  message,  then  no  scorn, 
no  reproach  that  may  be  cast  upon  him,  can  take 
away  his  rest — lie  has  done  his  duty.  When  the 
king  sent  out  his  servants  to  invite  men  to  his 
feast,  they  excused  themselves  on  various  preten- 
ces :  but  the  servant  might  say,  "No  matter! — I 
have  declared  the  message— I  may  rest  in  having 
tlone  my  part,  though  no  success  seems  to  attend 
my  pressing  invitations." 

I  would  lodge,  therefore,  my  appeal  in  your  con- 
sciences— J  take  you  to  record — I  appeal  to  con- 
science :  for  there  is  a  conscience  in  man  ;  and,  in 
serious  moments,  it  will  speak  out.  It  wrung  from 
Joseph's  brethren  that  confession,  We  are  verily 
guilty  concerning  our  brother !  Jt  forced  Balaam  him- 
self to  cry  out,  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous  ! 
and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his!  It  tormented  the 
traitor  . hulas  into  that  self-accusation,  /  have  sin- 
ned, in  that  I  have  betrayed  the  innocent  blood! 

When  a  young  person  has  been  talked  to  by  his 
parents — when  they  have  represented  to  him  the 
misery  and  ruin  of  a  wicked  course,  and  of  bad 
habits — he  might  affect  to  brave  it  out  at  the  time  ; 
but  he  has  gone  afterward  weeping  through  the 
streets — because  conscience  would  speak. 

But  when  the  Spirit  of  God  softens  a  man's 
heart — when  he  is  made  to  feel  what  an  evil  and 
bitter  thing  it  is  to  sin  against  God — then  a  faithful 
minister's  appeal  to  that  man  is  like  that  of  St. 
Paul  to  the  Thessalonians  :  Ye  are  witnesses,  and 
God  also,  howholily,  and  justly,  and  unblameably  we 
behaved  ourselves  among  you  that  believe.  As  you 
know  how  we  exhorted,  and  comforted,  and  charged 


272 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


every  one  of  you  (as  a  father  doth  his  children)  thai 
ye  would  ivalk  worthy  of  God,  who  hath  called  you 
unto  his  kingdom  and  glory.  For  this  cause  also 
thank  we  God  without  ceasiyig,  because,  when  ye  re- 
ceived the  word  of  God  which  ye  heard  of  us,  ye  re- 
ceived it  not  as  the  word  of  men,  but,  (as  it  is  in  truth) 
the  word  of  God  tohich  effectually  worketh  also  in  you 
that  believe.   1  Thess.  ii.  10— 13. 

It  is  most  affecting  to  see  to  what  miserable 
shifts  men  will  have  recourse,  in  order  to  evade  the 
truth. 

"It  is  irrational,"  says  one,  "  to  insist  so  much 
on  certain  peculiarities  of  doctrine !" — But  whose 
reason  shall  he  the  jurlsre  ? — For  the  preaching  of 
the  cross  is  to  them  that  perish  foolishness:  but,  It  is 
written  I  will  destroy  the  wisdom  of  the  wise,  and  will 
bring  to  nothing  the  understandiyig  of  the  prudent. 

"It  is  unnecessary,"  says  another — But  has  God 
commanded— and  do  we  pronounce  his  commands 
unnecessary  ? 

"It  is  disreputable" — Did  Christ  regard  rep- 
utation ? — Nay,  he  made  himself  of  no  reputation. 

"  It  is  a  narrow  way" — Ah  !  there,  indeed,  you 
pronounce  truly  !  The  way  of  heaven  is  a  narrow 
way!  But  what  says  the  judge — Wide  is  the  gate, 
and  broad  is  the  way  that  leadeth  to  destruction,  and 
many  there  be  which  go  in  thereat ;  because  struil  it 
the  gate,  and  narrow  is  the  way  which  leadeth  unto 
life,  and  few  there  be  that  find  'it. 

Oh  how  distressing  is  it  to  observe  many,  to 
whom  we  cannot  hut  fear,  the  Gospel  which  they 
hear  preached  from  Sunday  to  Sunday,  is  hut  the 
savor  of  death!  If  God  has  made  a  difference  in 
any  of  us,  let  us  not  forget  to  whom  we  are  in- 
debted. 

Brethren  !  yoo  are  my  witnesses.  I  take  you 
to  record,  that  you  hive  had  the  whole  counsel  of 
God  declared  unto  you — that  all  curious  and  met- 


REMAINS   OF   MR.  CECIL. 


273 


aphvsical  inquiries,  all  critical  and  conjectural 
points  have  been  carefully  avoided  for  your  sake. 
I  have  attempted  to  clear  my  ministry  of  all  dispu- 
table subjects,  in  order  to  set  before  you  the  plain 
fact  of  the  death  and  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  of  salvation  through  him. 

But  consider  !  toc  also  must  give  an  account ! 
I  must  give  an  account,  whether  I  plainly  and 
simply  declared  the  truth,  as  one  who  felt  its  im- 
portance, and  was  in  earnest.  You  must  give  an 
account,  whether  you  have  gone  away  from  this 
place,  as  if  you  had  heard  nothing  to  the  purpose, 
and  immediately  dissipated  your  thoughts  with 
some  trifling  subject — some  mere  secular  concern  : 
— or — whether  what  you  heard  brought  you  to  your 
knees  before  God,  beseeching  him  to  seal  and  im- 
press his  truth  upon  your  hearts. 

Oh  consider  the  satisfaction  you  will  find,  in 
really  embracing  all  the  counsel  of  God.  Consider 
how  soon  the  time  will  come,  in  which  it  must  be 
your  only  satisfaction,  that  you  have  embraced 
it !  Let  it  be  your  prayer,  as  you  go  hence — "  O 
God,  give  me  grace  to  repent  with  that  repentance 
which  is  unto  life  !  Make  me  serious !  Teach  me 
what  I  must  do  to  be  saved  !  Help  me  to  believe 
the  record  which  thou  hast  given  of  thy  Son.  Give 
me  faith  to  receive  the  atonement — to  set  to  my  seal 
that  there  is  none  other  name  under  heaven  given 
among  men  whereby  we  must  be  saved,  but  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ." 

Come  to  your  Saviour,  with  humility  as  a  sin- 
ner :  come  with  gratitude  and  love.  "Forye 
are  not  come  unto  the  mount  that  might  be  touch- 
ed, and  that  burned  with  fire,  nor  unto  blackness, 
and  darkness,  and  tempest,  and  the  sound  of  a 
trumpet,  and  the  voice  of  words :"  when,  "  so 
terrible  was  the  sight,  that  Moses  said,  I  exceed- 


274 


REMAINS   OFjMR.  CECIL- 


ingly  fear  and  quake.  But  ye  are  come  unto 
mount  Sion  ;  and  unto  the  city  of  the  living  God 
— the  heavenly  Jerusalem  ;  and  to  an  innumerable 
company  of  angels  ;  and  to  the  general  assembly 
and  church  of  the  first  born,  which  are  written  in 
heaven  ;  and  to  God,  the  Judge  of  all :  and  to  the 
spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect;  and  to  Jesus  the 
Mediator  of  the  new  covenant ;  and  to  the  blood 
of  sprinkling,  that  speaketh  better  things  than  that 
of  Abel.  See,  then,  that  ye  refuse  not  him  that 
speaketh  ! — but — receiving  a  kingdom  which  can- 
not be  moved,  let  us  hold  fast  grace,  whereby  we 
may  serve  God  acceptably,  with  reverence  and 
godly  fear."    Heb.  xii.  18—28. 


LINES  ON  THE  DEATH 


OF 

A   CHILD  AT  DAY-BREAK 

BY   REV.   MR.  CECIL. 

'  Let  me  go,  for  the  day  breakcth," — Genesis  32  : 

Cease  here  longer  to  detain  me, 

Kindest  mother,  drown'd  in  wo, 
Now  thy  kind  caresses  pain  me  ; 

Morn  advances — let  me  go. 

See  yon  orient  streak  appearing  ! 

Harbinger  of  endless  day  ; 
Hark  !  a  voice  the  darkness  cheering, 

Calls  my  new-born  soul  away  ! 

Lately  launch'd  a  trembling  stranger, 
On  this  world's  wide  boisterous  flood, 

Pierc'd  with  sorrows,  toss'd  with  danger, 
Gladly  I  return  to  God. 

Now  my  cries  shall  cease  to  grieve  thee, 
Now  my  trembling  heart  find  rest; 

Kinder  arms  than  thine  receive  me, 
Softer  pillow  than  thy  breast. 

Weep  not  o'er  these  eyes  that  languish, 
Upward  turning  toward  their  home  ; 

Kaptur'd  they'll  forget  all  anguish, 
While  they  wait  to  see  thee  come. 

There,  my  mother,  pleasures  centre — 

—Weeping,  parting,  care  or  wo 
Ne'er  our  Father's  house  shall  enter— 

— Morn  advances — let  me  go. 


LINES   BY  MR.  CECIL. 


As  through  this  calm  and  holy  dawn  , 
Silent  glides  my  parting  breath, 

To  an  Everlasting  Morning — 
Gently  close  my  eyes  in  death. 

Blessings,  endless,  richest  blessings, 
Pour  their  streams  upon  thy  heart  ! 

(Though  no  language  yet  possessing) 
Breathes  my  spirit  ere  we  part. 

Yet  to  leave  thee  sorrowing  rends  me, 
Now  again  his  voice  I  hear  ; 

Rise  ! — may  every  grace  attend  thee, 
Rise,  and  seek  tu  meet  me  there  ! 


